In one of the Mass Readings for this week, the Gospel (Luke 6:6-11) recounts a miracle and a plot: Jesus heals the withered right hand of a man on Sabbath Day, as the watchful Pharisees, enraged with the act, immediately seek counsel in a plot to put Jesus to death.
A miracle that saves a man suffering from a bodily defect happens in front of the very eyes of the Pharisees, but they remain unimpressed; not only because of their strict observance of the law of God, of remembering the sabbath day and keeping it holy (Exodus 20:8), but more so because of their pride, self-righteousness and envy.
The Gospel of Mark gives us further detail. Looking at the Pharisees, Jesus is “grieved at their hardness of heart” (Mark 3:5); for they know and follow God’s Commandments to the letter, yet, having witnessed God’s work of love and mercy for His people on Sabbath or any other day, they do not rejoice in the goodness of the Lord—as men of faith and piety should—but instead, they rage against Him.
My Reflection
1. When I was a child, I loved singing and playing the classic American West folk song Home on the Range on the piano. When I was 13 years old, enjoying the ‘dawn’ of the internet in the Philippines, I searched for its best MIDI version, and recorded it in a recorder, so that I could listen to it everywhere. Aside from its emotional tune, its lyrics are true and beautiful. The person in the song wishes to be given a home on the range where animals roam and play, and quite particularly, where a discouraging word is seldom heard. Imagine living in a world wherein people are being supportive of you, instead of discouraging you. Think of how comforting that is.
2. How many times have you tried to achieve something, to do better, to bring about a change, to hope for a miracle, to return to God… only to receive discouraging words from others? Those words come from strangers, like the ones you hear on the news or read on the internet. Sadly, they may also come from your friends, and even your own family.
3. People have different reasons for discouraging you. Perhaps they are pessimists or negative thinkers. Perhaps their own attitudes and agenda are in conflict with yours. They could be, for all you know, envious about you potentially having a better life. It could be because of some ‘rules’ they created for themselves- rules based on how they think the world works. They probably have their own insecurities and failures, causing them to stop believing in anything good. Or it could be because they do not acknowledge God in their lives.
4. In other words, the “hardness of heart” of the Pharisees, in various ways and forms, remains pervasive among many people in this modern society.
One form is to discourage—in ways that deter people from attaining what’s good and achieving valuable life goals; that dishearten people from living a moral life and treading the narrow path; that undermine a person’s faith, hope and love for God and His Church.
5. Some examples come to mind. A person desires growth, and wants to pursue graduate studies. But because they are older now, people doubt what good it would do and tell them to stop wasting time or resources. A person desires to make a significant change of self and turn his or her life around, from simpler things like having a healthier diet and lifestyle, to more serious ones like resisting sinfulness and frequenting the Sacraments. But people say, ‘You’d surely go back to your old habits.’ Or they say, ‘You can never change. Not even God is convinced.’ A person desires to take the plunge, or to take a leap of faith, and enter into the Sacrament of Marriage, and raise a family. But people tell them that it’s already too late for them to do that or that it’s too much of a ‘risk’ nowadays. A person suffering from depression desires to come out of it. But people say that not even prayers can free and save their minds.
And if we look closely, at times, we are the very ones who discourage our own selves due to our fears, hurts, past mistakes, weaknesses, or lack of wisdom and faith.
6. If we are not vigilant, the evil enemy uses the ‘pharisees’ around us and inside us to plot against the true good we desire, and to discourage us from entrusting ourselves wholly to the goodness of the Lord.
It’s probably one of the reasons why many people these days find it absurd to hope for a miracle; much less to believe that God can make it happen. Of course, many of our life concerns require practical solutions-chronic illness needs proper medical attention, self-improvement needs effort, and so on. But for us Catholics, faith in God should accompany every prayer and every action.
7. We must have faith that God knows and listens to all our prayers, Mass offerings, sacrifices, novenas, special intentions; that only God has the power to grant our prayers of petition in accord with His divine plan. In any moment, believe that God can give us as He sees fit whatever it is that we humbly and faithfully ask of Him in prayer, even seemingly impossible ones.
8. “For nothing will be impossible for God” (Luke 1:37). Sometimes even us faithful tend to forget this reassuring truth. God moves in our lives with His infinite love, mercy and compassion. This Gospel account reminds us that Jesus sees us through, against all odds—against all opposition, obstacles, difficulties, setbacks and hardness of heart in this world. He is the Almighty God. According to His will, He brings about in our lives healing, conversion, and all other temporal and spiritual graces that we pray for.
9. “Then he said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out, and it was restored as sound as the other” (Matthew 12:13). If in any way, we see a bit of ourselves in the man with a faulty hand, if there is any part of our being that is withering-a sick body, a distressed mind, a lonely heart, a troubled life, a dry spirituality, then know that Jesus is inviting us to trust in Him, to have faith in Him, and to hope against hope. God’s Mercy restores us as it overflows. He eagerly awaits for us to do as He says, as the man with the withered hand did, to follow as He commands, and to reach out to Him in confidence.
10. Let us not lose courage. Let us not be dispirited by other people’s discouraging words, but be uplifted by the living Word of God, the Scripture, by sacred Tradition, and by the eloquence of the words of the Saints. Let us not be swayed by other people’s beliefs, but be guided by the wisdom of the Catholic Faith and the teachings of the Church. Let us not be intimidated by secular rules, for the only ‘rule’ that matters in everything we say and do is God’s commandment of love—”The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31).
Conclusion
Saint Paul the Apostle himself recognizes how invaluable it is that we encourage one another. And it is very much needed to this day, especially in this weary world where discouraging words are many. In his Letter to the Hebrews, he says,
“We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works…encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
– Hebrews 10:24-25
In another Letter, which is the First Reading that accompanies the Gospel above, Saint Paul offers his suffering as encouragement to the Colossians, “that their hearts may be encouraged as they are brought together in love, to have all the richness of assured understanding, for the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:2-3).
Remember that our sufferings and sacrifices help us in deepening our love, understanding, and knowledge of God. May we have the courage to go forward in faith and action, against all odds, with Jesus Christ by our side. And may we continue to pray for the ultimate good of our souls—to dwell with the Word Incarnate Himself, the source of all encouragement, in the eternal home for the just where a discouraging word is never ever spoken or heard.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love.
Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!
Saint Joseph, pray for us!
Amen.
She graduated cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas, the country's Pontifical and Catholic university, with an AB in Legal Management and minor units in Theology.
As an unmarried woman, prayer holds a central place in her daily life, with a focus on the Rosary and the Divine Office. Embodying her faith, she emphasizes the growth of her inner spiritual life, guided by the wisdom of Carmelite spirituality.
God manifested to her in a unique and radical manner, which made her know Who He truly is and led her to total surrender of her life to Him.
She has studied the Bible with her family, developing a particular fondness for the Old Testament.
Her adorable and intelligent toy poodle is a delightful companion in her daily life, bringing warmth and joy to her home.
Her hobbies include reading about everything, learning Japanese and German, listening to music and playing the flute.
In her leisure time, she enjoys gaming on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo 3DS, iOS and OS, and collecting things related to PlayStation and Nintendo.
Email: [email protected]
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