January 20, 2021 Wednesday of the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time-B

Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17

Psalm 110

Mark 3:1-6

Looking around at them in anger and grieved at their hardness of heart… Mk.3:5

Lord, was this man placed in the synagogue that day just to trip you up?  Was his handicap used by your enemies to get you to break the Sabbath law as they saw it?  You got angry at their taking advantage of the suffering of the man with the useless hand. You could have healed this man’s hand privately, or you could have restored it the next day and not taken on the ire of the Pharisees. But you brought him up in front of everyone to help them see who you were. You are the healer, the savior, the restorer. You placed service to others on a par with religious worship, not opposed to it. You teach us that compassion is always appropriate, even in church. Lord, the good you did this day started you down the road to Calvary as they plotted to kill you. You knew that would happen, didn’t you?  May I too have the right perspective and priorities in my walk with you. May I honor the Sabbath as your day and always seek to imitate your compassion and mercy 24/7.  Amen.