Listen

Jesus returned to the synagogue. A man with a withered hand was there. Wanting to bring charges against Jesus, they were watching Jesus closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. He said to the man with the withered hand, “Step up where people can see you.” Then he said to them, “Is it legal on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they said nothing.

Mark 3:1-4

Think

There is a portion of a prayer that I pray often in the morning that goes something like this: “God, make me mindful that you are already out in this new day ahead and that I need to join you in your work in our world.” These words of Jesus from our scripture remind me of that today. Every day we are presented with hundreds, if not thousands, of choices. How we respond to the people right in front of us every day says a lot about our understanding of God in our world working through us.

Sabbath is about giving God space to work in our lives, to strengthen and prepare us to be the people God is calling us to be. Then, when we are presented choices to work in the life of someone who is standing right in front of us, we’ll choose to save that life, rather than destroy it.

Tony Vincent

Pray

God, in this new day ahead, let my choices reflect your grace and goodness. May I choose to save life, rather than destroy it, just as I have been blessed by your healing touch. Amen.

Go

Words of life, words of hope
give us strength, help us cope;
in this world where’er we roam
God’s ancient words will guide us home.

from “Ancient Words” by Lynn Deshazo (2001)