Luke 6:6-11

1 Corinthians 5:1-8

Psalm 5:5-6, 7, 12

Luke 6:6-11

On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught,

and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.

The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely

to see if he would cure on the sabbath

so that they might discover a reason to accuse him.

But he realized their intentions

and said to the man with the withered hand,

“Come up and stand before us.”

And he rose and stood there.

Then Jesus said to them,

“I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath

rather than to do evil,

to save life rather than to destroy it?”

Looking around at them all, he then said to him,

“Stretch out your hand.”

He did so and his hand was restored.

But they became enraged

and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you are the Creator of all things. You created the universe so that we could come to know you, love you, and enjoy eternal life with you. I thank you for all that you have done and look forward to being with you in heaven.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Sabbath and our Creation: The Old Testament gives two reasons for the Sabbath rest. The first reason is found in Exodus. God created the world and then rests on the seventh day (Exodus 20:11). We, as God’s creatures, are called to imitate our Creator. We are called to work six days and hallow the seventh day. In this way, we celebrate and remember the great work of creation. When Jesus restores the man to health on the Sabbath, it recalls the withered hand of Adam who reached for the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Jesus restores humanity to its original vocation to share in the life of God. On the New Sabbath, on Sunday we rest and celebrate the divine work of creation.

2. The Sabbath and our Redemption: The second reason for the Sabbath rest in the Old Testament is to recall how God has saved us (Deuteronomy 5:15). God saved the people of Israel and delivered them from slavery in Egypt. In the New Testament, we learn how Jesus himself saved us from the slavery of sin and death and rested in the tomb on the Sabbath. When Jesus restores the man to health on the Sabbath, it looks forward to our redemption and salvation. On the New Sabbath, on Sunday, we rest and celebrate the divine work of redemption and recreation.

3. The Sabbath and our Consummation: The Sabbath – our resting on the Lord’s Day – also looks forward to our eternal rest and sharing in eternal life. It is an anticipation of heaven. When Jesus restores the man to health on the Sabbath, the miracle looks forward to our ultimate healing at the moment of our death. The span of our life is like the six days of the week in which we work. The moment of our death is to be the beginning of our eternal Sabbath rest. The Holy Spirit is bringing all things to their ultimate consummation. On the New Sabbath, on Sunday, we rest and celebrate the divine work of consummation.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are the redeemer of the world. You redeemed us from sin and death and broke the reign of the Evil One. You bestowed on me the gift of recreation. I thank you and praise you for all that you have done and I look forward to being with you in heaven.

Living the Word of God: How am I living the Sabbath rest? On the Lord’s Day, do I spend time with my family and listen to God’s Word? Do I make the celebration of the Eucharist the center of the Lord’s Day?