Breaking the Word

30^th Week in Ord. Time, Monday – 24^th October 2022 — Gospel:    Lk 13,10-17

Purposeful Fulfillment 

Jesus takes notice of the woman who is bent over and unable to stand erect. He initiates the healing by calling her and then proclaims that she is “set free” from her ailment. Jesus heals on the Sabbath not to irritate the religious leaders, but to highlight the Sabbath significance of his mission. The purpose of the Sabbath is the remembrance of the liberation of God’s people from their bondage and also to give glory to God.  As stated in Torah, “Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arms; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day” (Deut 5,15). Since the Sabbath is a remembrance of the Exodus, Jesus considers this day as best to free the captives and to enjoy rest from their bondage. Therefore, Luke wishes to demonstrate that Jesus is leading a New Exodus. As the Lord of Sabbath, he has come to liberate God’s people from all the powers of evil that hold them bound. Jesus proves that he is the source of eternal life on the Sabbath, not only in words but also in actions. The woman, in turn, gives glory and praise to God.

30^th Ordinary Sunday – 23^rd October 2022 — Gospel: Lk 18,9-14

Dependence Justifies

The parable of the Pharisee and tax collector is exclusive to Luke and is addressed to those who “trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt.” Jesus points out that God’s view reverses both verdicts. Jesus does not say that the publican is good and the Pharisee is bad and a liar. He does not say that one is fundamentally virtuous while the other is a sinner who managed to hide his sin. Jesus only says that the one who came to God’s house in his own eyes as a sinner went home with God’s favour (justified); the one so sure of his virtue went home without it.

In another sense, the parable describes any self-righteous person. There is a great difference between being righteous and being self-righteous. The righteous person knows that s/he is dependent on God and does nothing without God’s help. The self-righteous person, on the other hand, is so filled with self-importance and pride that s/he cannot see beyond his/her own nose. These self-righteous assume that God is dependent on them.

The parable summons us to a prayer of love and trust in God’s mercy. It frees us from the need to tell God who is a sinner and who is not. It summons us to realize that, even when we are righteous, it is because of God’s grace that we can be so. Only those who can acknowledge their own weaknesses feel the need to turn to God in prayer with sentiments of humility.