When I was still working in the airport, I recalled a day when a man asked for my help to carry his luggage in the taxi bay area. However, since I was assigned to the Conveyor Area during that time, I was not allowed by the airport protocol to go and assist any arriving passengers. I thought that if I would help the old man, I might be sanctioned by the airport management and it could lead to a disciplinary action against me. I decided therefore to look for someone authorized to help the old man. I explained to him that I was not allowed to leave my assignment area, but he started to make a rant against the airport’s protocol.

In the Gospel today, Jesus heals a man who had a withered hand on the Sabbath. He then confronted the Pharisees and asked them if it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than evil. The Pharisees, however, remained silent on the question of Jesus. Instead, they immediately went out and took counsel with the Herodians against Him to put Him to death.

The Gospel today challenges me that in everything that I do, I must always choose to what is good and find every opportunity to be of help. When the moment asks for it, do something good however small rather than not doing anything at all. As a priest-in-process, I am called to be an extension of God’s hands. I must ignore the people who love spending their time judging others and what they have to say or else I will be prevented from doing the good I ought even while recognizing boundaries and limitations. Jesus reminds us to always seek and do what is good.

By: Sem. Jimwell S. Sales

Today’s Gospel

Mk 3:1-6

Jesus entered the synagogue.
There was a man there who had a withered hand.
They watched Jesus closely
to see if he would cure him on the sabbath
so that they might accuse him.
He said to the man with the withered hand,
“Come up here before us.”
Then he said to the Pharisees,
“Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil,
to save life rather than to destroy it?”
But they remained silent.
Looking around at them with anger
and grieved at their hardness of heart,
Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”
He stretched it out and his hand was restored.
The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel
with the Herodians against him to put him to death.