23 Week, Ordinary Time, Cycle B, Year 2, Sept. 11, 2006

Scripture: I Corinthians 5:1-8. Psalm 5:5-7,12. Luke 6:6-11

One of the important behavior patterns necessary for good relationships with others is avoiding inoportune or rash judgments and working at not being jealous of others. These are virtues which help us to lead a good wholesome and even holy life--good balanced judgment about issues and persons and not being envious or jealous of those who are better than we are. Jealousy is especially a nasty vice and rash judgments usually spring from pride or a form of jealousy. People who like to be in control have a proclivity to these not so nice behavior traits. If we learn to control and balance these tendencies we will usually have good relationships with other people and make it more pleasant for our friends as well. Now how does this fit in with today's readings?

I concentrated on the pattern of Luke who is showing us Jesus in a public forum relating to people and to religious leaders and lawyers. He heals on a Sabbath and does a good work in restoring full use of a withered hand of a person present in the syngagogue. It took no physical effort on Jesus' part except telling the man that he is healed. And it was in my judgment a very good deed on a good day, the Sabbath. It was, so to speak, a mitzvah. From another citation in the Gospels, I recalled the phrase, " Speak, Lord, and your servant will be healed." (Sed tantum dic verbum et anima mea salvabit).

In looking at those who were totally upset and displayed very bad behavior in trying to take it out on Jesus, I think it was more a trait of jealousy and bad judgment on their part. They questioned a good deed done on the Sabbath which is permitted by the commandment of love of your neighbor. Let's not condemn or judge them for we often do the same. Again, Luke's narrative is meant for us not for the past listeners. The Gospel never should be used as a weapon. It is a teaching tool of the Evangelists and Luke is especially concerned about Gentile listeners! Luke is offering us a teaching experience in the life of Jesus that can really help us reflect on our own behavior patterns. We can better our relationships with those who are more intelligent, more compassionate, and more gifted than we are. Luke, the universalist, is interested in helping us see the bigger picture in relationships and how God is working among us in salvation history through the demands of Gospel and Torah teachings. We can start putting this into practice and make of Monday a day of joy instead of a "Blue Monday." Amen.