Paul offers this prayer to the Church in Philippi: “that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value…” (Philippians 1:9-10a). Paul, after encountering the conviction of Jesus’ love for his Church, changed his countenance from one of persecuting Jesus’ followers, to become one of his most ardent supporters. He was willing to repent and change.
Unfortunately, Jesus was not receiving the same openness from some of Paul’s contemporaries. In today’s gospel, Jesus is faced yet again with opposition as he heals a man with dropsy, a condition in which some part of his body was suffering from swelling, possibly water retention. Instead of recognizing and rejoicing in the healing just witnessed, scholars of the law and the Pharisees judged Jesus for healing on the sabbath.
In response, Jesus points out the obvious by asking, “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day” (Luke 14:5)? No answer but crickets… Jesus, as he often does, builds his case from the lesser to the greater. Just as he did with the parable of the unjust judge who made a just verdict, and an unwilling neighbor gave bread to his persistent friend in the middle of the night, how much more will God provide for his children?
Jesus also met the scribes and Pharisees on their home turf. In sharing the account above about saving the ox on the sabbath, Jesus was quoting from Deuteronomy 22:4. He was appealing to their knowledge of the Torah as well as making an appeal to reason. Jesus invited them to repent and soften their hearts as Paul had, as he invites all of us to do. Jesus wants all of us to be saved. The healings of Jesus are invitations to the ultimate healing we all seek which is the restoration and reconciliation of our relationship with God.
We need to be careful that we don’t fall into the tunnel vision of some of the scribes and the Pharisees by limiting Jesus in our own lives because we are choosing our fears, insecurities, or doubts over his guidance. I have done both. I have resisted, chosen not to act, beaten myself up over it (which does not work because we are still focused on ourselves and not Jesus), and prayed to improve the next time. I have followed without hesitation. I have also hesitated and then acted. Each time I was willing to risk and follow Jesus, I have experienced his consolation and our relationship has grown stronger.
I invite you to listen to Jesus today and ponder where he might be leading you and in what way to act regarding a present challenge or challenges. Grant yourself a quiet moment to examine where you may be resisting his invitation no matter how small, then trust him, and receive his love. With each thought we entertain, choice we make, word we speak, may each go through the filter of the Holy Sprit. Ask, God is this what you want me to think, choose, or say? If yes, go forward. Instead of a knee-jerk reaction, let us give ourselves a prayerful pause with the Lord, follow his lead, and watch his love increase!
Photo: Jesus loves us this much! Are we willing to receive and be transformed by his love.
