+ In the first reading today St. Paul in a very brief and concise way summarizes his entire ministry: it is to help make up for the imperfections and sins in the Church (even in that very early stage of development) by his own sufferings – which do count towards redemption. New sins require members of the Body-sinned-against to make up for the sins with some amount of distress, penance – its only just; Paul's other part of ministry is to reveal the Christ as the hope of glory – there is a hidden story of tremendous love, compassion, mercy, forgiveness and restoration which is the cause of such hope: and it is based in the life, death and resurrection of Christ – and it is a story to be told to every creature, everywhere! And all of this has as its goal the perfection of everything and everyone as we all progress to fulfillment and completion in Christ one day when we truly will see his glory and participate in it in an amazing way!
In the gospel passage, Jesus, hope of glory, hope of everyone is persecuted because he demonstrated his power as healer, as a compassionate person, as God-Friend on a Sabbath. The scribes and Pharisees just could not get past the strict legal prescriptions that come second, ignoring the tender mercy of God which always comes first – on any day of the week, especially the Sabbath! Jesus says to them in their own language: is it lawful do to a good deed on the Sabbath rather than an evil one, to save life rather than destroy it? In being unable to answer him they both affirmed his authority and condemned themselves.
May the scribes and Pharisees of our own day be given the light of grace to see things as they are, and rejoice!
In God is my safety and my glory!
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