FIRST READING
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans 9:1-5
I could wish that I myself were accursed for the sake of my brethren.
Brethren: I am speaking the truth in Christ, I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm147: 12- 13.14-15.19-20 (R. I 2a)
R/. O Jerusalem, glorify the Lord!
O Jerusalem, glorify the Lord!
O Sion, praise your God!
He has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you. R/.
He established peace on your borders;
he gives you your fill of finest wheat.
He sends out his word to the earth,
and swiftly runs his command. R/.
R/. O Jerusalem, glorify the Lord!
He reveals his word to Jacob;
to Israel, his decrees and judgements.
He has not dealt thus with other nations;
He has not taught them his judgements. R.
ALLELUIA John 10:27
Alleluia. My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; and I know them, and they follow me. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well, will not immediately pull him out on a sabbath day?
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 14:1-6)
One Sabbath when Jesus went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him. And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. And Jesus spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not? But they were silent. Then he took him and healed him, and let him go. And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well, will not immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day? And they could not reply to this.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
The third commandment calls for observance of the Sabbath. This is in keeping with the day of rest that Yahweh observed after the creation of the universe, a day to glorify the Creator God. As beautiful as this commandment is, the Pharisees corrupted it with their hypocrisy. They turned it upside down in such a way that it was no longer about God and the wonder of creation, but us as well, that all laws are made for man and not man for the laws. The highest law is the law of love. When we show love, we live higher than the law and reflect God’s goodness to those around us.