Thirtieth Friday of Ordinary Time

On a Sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking, “Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath or not?” But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. Then he said to them “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” But they were unable to answer his question.

Jesus knew that healing the man with dropsy would be frowned on by the Pharisees, but did it anyway because he does not care about the opinions of men. The only one he sought approval from was God the Father. He chose to do the right and good thing rather than the popular one. We, too, should be willing to do the right, but unpopular thing. It is tempting for us to sin by taking the easy way out or choosing to do nothing when presented with an opportunity to do a good, but unpopular thing. However, this is not what Jesus modeled for us in his life and so we should do everything within our power to know, love, or serve God and our neighbors.

Do we seek approval from the world or from God? When presented with an opportunity to be charitable and merciful toward others do we take it? Are we willing to do the right, but unpopular thing?

O Lord, give us the strength to do your will even in the midst of opposition.

Amen.