Daily Retreat 10/30/06
2006 Oct 30 Mon: Ordinary Weekday
Eph 4: 32 – 5: 8/ Ps 1: 1-2. 3. 4 and 6/ Lk 13: 10-17
>From today’s readings: “Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.... Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked.... Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath, and a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit....”
Sabbath Savvy
It’s bewildering to read in the Gospel about objections raised against Jesus for the good works that He did on the Sabbath, such as healing a woman who had been crippled for eighteen years. We wonder: how could anyone be so mean-spirited as to complain about anything good done, especially on the Lord’s Day?
It can be conceded that, in theory, it is possible that timing and manner can sometimes mitigate or even negate the goodness of many acts offered with the best of intentions. For example, if I were to turn out some lights in an empty room, it would normally be a favor to save electricity, unless, of course, the lights had been specifically left on for some unknown reason, in which case my good intention might have adverse consequences!
We can all think of times when others sincerely tried to help us, but perhaps really not in the right time or way. In such cases, it’s easy to get annoyed and frustrated, leading to overblown outbursts against the person himself, instead of recognizing the good intentions, and just offering the proper corrective instructions. When we remember how people unjustifiably objected to the good Jesus did on the Sabbath, that should help us be more patient with the good intentioned but poorly timed efforts of others.
Eph 4: 32 – 5: 8/ Ps 1: 1-2. 3. 4 and 6/ Lk 13: 10-17
>From today’s readings: “Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.... Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked.... Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath, and a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit....”
Sabbath Savvy
It’s bewildering to read in the Gospel about objections raised against Jesus for the good works that He did on the Sabbath, such as healing a woman who had been crippled for eighteen years. We wonder: how could anyone be so mean-spirited as to complain about anything good done, especially on the Lord’s Day?
It can be conceded that, in theory, it is possible that timing and manner can sometimes mitigate or even negate the goodness of many acts offered with the best of intentions. For example, if I were to turn out some lights in an empty room, it would normally be a favor to save electricity, unless, of course, the lights had been specifically left on for some unknown reason, in which case my good intention might have adverse consequences!
We can all think of times when others sincerely tried to help us, but perhaps really not in the right time or way. In such cases, it’s easy to get annoyed and frustrated, leading to overblown outbursts against the person himself, instead of recognizing the good intentions, and just offering the proper corrective instructions. When we remember how people unjustifiably objected to the good Jesus did on the Sabbath, that should help us be more patient with the good intentioned but poorly timed efforts of others.
posted by FrPitstick | 10/30/2006
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