WEDNESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME YEAR II
Celebration of the day: St Anthony, Abbot
(251-356). Called the Patriarch of Monks, St. Anthony retired to the desert when he was eighteen years old. He was the first abbot to form a stable rule for his family of monks dedicated to the divine Service. He led an austere life which was always consciously directed to the better service of God.
Mystery of the day: Glorious
Table of the Word: 1 Samuel 17:32-33.37.40-51; Psalm 144:1.2.9-10 (R. 1a); Mark 3:1-6
The WORD: "Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?." (see Mark 3:1-6)
Theme: No limitation in God
Inspiration: God's grace through His Son and our Saviour Jesus Christ is that gratuitous gift given to humanity at no cost. This grace breaks every protocol without permission or condition, that is why today's gospel pericope gives us an account of healing that took place on Sabbath day. For the Jews and Pharisees, this should not be the case. In their myopic calculations they wanted to limit the grace of God by citing that the healing supposed not to be taken place on Sabbath.
Then Jesus in His usual authoritative manner as the King and Lord asked: "Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?." (see Mark 3:1-6)
This question is the continuation of His encounter with them in yesterday's gospel reading when He said:
"The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath." (Mark 2:23-28)
Dearest friends, this encounter of Jesus with these men meant to bring to our consciousness that there is no limit to our salvation. God right from time immemorial till date has been continously at work to save us from the shackle of total damnation.
In our respective situation, do we believe that there is no limitation to God's grace in our lives? Do we know that even when life tasted sour there is always sweetness beneath it? Are we aware that God is able to turn our tears into cleansing water?
Indeed, there is no limit in God as the grace bestowed upon humanity through His only begotten Son speaks volume in our everyday situation. Clinch on the foot of the Cross of Jesus, and every barrier will be broken just as the man with the withered hand in today's gospel pericope. + May St. Anthony the Abbot pray for us that we may be conscious of God's grace in our lives. Amen.
Peace! Be with you!
Let us pray
O God, who brought the Abbot Saint Anthony to serve you by a wondrous way of life in the desert, grant, through his intercession, that, denying ourselves, we may always love you above all things. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.Amen.
© The ARCHIVE 17012024
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