DAILY GOSPEL COMMENTARY: “STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND” (Lk 6:6-11).

Jesus-Heals-the-Man-with-Withered-Hand-Rahib-W59231B.
Credit to the owner of the photo.

Gospel of Monday, 23rd week in Ordinary time
Lk 6:6–11

The curing of a man with a withered hand

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.

Gospel Commentary from the Navarre Bible, Commentary to the Gospel of St. Luke (with permission)

The curing of a man with a withered hand
- 10 The Fathers teach us how to discover a deep spiritual meaning in apparently casual things Jesus says. St Ambrose, for example, commenting on the phrase “Stretch out your hand,” says:
  - “This form of medicine is common and general. Offer it often, in benefit of your neighbour; defend from injury anyone who seems to be suffering as a result of calumny; stretch your hand out also to the poor man who asks for your help; stretch it out also to the Lord, asking him to forgive your sins; that is how you should stretch your hand out, and that is the way to he cured” (Expositio Evangelii sec. Lucam, in loc.).
- 11 The Pharisees don’t want to reply to Jesus’ question, and they don’t know how to react to the miracle which he goes on to work.
  - It should have converted them, but their hearts were in darkness and they were full of jealousy and anger.
  - Later on, these people, who kept quiet in our Lord’s presence, began to discuss him among themselves, not with a view to approaching him again but with the purpose of doing away with him. In this connexion St Cyril comments:
    - “O Pharisee, you see him working wonders and healing the sick by using a higher power, yet out of envy you plot his death” (Commentarium in Lucam, in loc.).

VIDEO COMMENTARY

TOPIC: Which is more important: the rule of law or the rule of love?

TOPIC 2: CAN YOU SUFFER WITH JOY?

In today’s first reading, Paul writes about his sufferings for the sake of the Colossians and the church, in general. He was in prison when he wrote this. We know Paul’s travails throughout his missionary life – pelted with stone, beaten by rod, shipwrecked, stayed a night alone floating at sea, bitten by a venomous snake – all because of his faith. Blinded by his persecution of Christians, he was struck by the light of Christ that led him to an all-out dedication of his life for Christ. We reflect today on our state of suffering.

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