Sabbath Day is a day to celebrate and to love: Reflection by Cynthia Abegail

“Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand.  They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they may accuse him.  And he said to the man with a withered hand, “Come forward.”  Then he said to them, ‘Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?’ But they were silent.  He looked around at them with anger, he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’  He stretched it out and his hand was restored.’  (Mk 3: 1-5)  The Lord clarified the meaning of Sabbath.  It is a day of healing, of love and of care.  It is not a matter of just obeying the law but Jesus came to fulfill the law.  Sabbath is a day to save life, not a day to kill.  One may have obeyed the intricacies of the law and will not dare work on the Sabbath, but failed to help his neighbour in need.  Where is the meaning of Sabbath there? Again, it is the law of love which is important, as Jesus has demonstrated.  Praise God!