In today’s Gospel, Jesus heals a woman that has been crippled by an evil spirit for 18 years, however his loving and merciful act infuriated the Pharisees because he did it on the Sabbath. They were so focused on their own laws, that they didn’t understand the miracle that happened right before their eyes.
Jesus humiliated the Pharisees by asking why it’s legal to help a hurt animal on the Sabbath, yet they are angry when he helps a human being, who is one of God’s people, and had been afflicted for 18 years. Jesus tells us many times in scripture that people are more valuable than animals.
Would Jesus find the same hypocrisy and legalism in our world today? Our state of California has some of the most progressive animal protection laws in the country, which is a good thing, but where are the laws protecting and helping unborn children, immigrants, and the homeless? Are they not more valuable than the animals?
Let us pray that this example from Jesus gives us the courage to stand up when people need mercy, especially when they can’t stand for themselves.
De Colores, Deacon Kevin
Join us in prayer!
We encourage you to join us as we recite the Holy Rosary every night at 8PM! On Wednesdays, we pray the rosary via Zoom with the rector and rectora.
Resources for those not able to attend Mass
Daily Readings in English and Spanish from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:
Prayers, readings for Mass, and additional spiritual readings are available at:
Magnificat publication, a spiritual guide that includes daily Mass: https://us.magnificat.net/free
“Give Us This Day” a digital file of their periodical, which includes daily Mass texts. Visit GUTD.net and select “Digital” in the upper right of the screen.