September 11, 2017

Gospel: Lk 6:6-11
On another Sabbath, Jesus entered the synagogue and began teaching. There was a man with a paralyzed right hand, and the teachers of the law and the Pharisees watched him: Would Jesus heal the man on the Sabbath? If he did, they could accuse him.
But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to the man, “Get up, and stand in the middle.“ Then he spoke to them, “I want to ask you: what is allowed by the law on the Sabbath? To do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?“ And Jesus looked around at them all.
Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.“ He stretched it out, and his hand was restored, becoming as healthy as the other. But they were furious, and began to discuss with one another how they could deal with Jesus.

REFLECTION:
In the synagogue, the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees were watching Jesus closely in order to find something to accuse him of.
Why do people go to church or places of worship? Evidently, it is to pray. However, there are times when you listen to some regular churchgoers and you cannot help wondering: Did they really go to worship God? For, once the service is over, they come to you and share with you everything they found wrong with the priest‘s manner of doing the Mass or preaching the homily. They comment about latecomers. They criticize the faithful departed, those who leave before the Mass ends. They complain about the disorder caused by children and mourn the absence of youth at the Mass. They accuse the pastor for bringing up financial needs and forcing a second collection. And of course, the choir—wasn‘t it terrible?
Why do I go to church?