Daily Catholic Lectio
Wed, 22 January ‘25
Second Week in Ordinary Time – Wednesday
Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17. Psalm 110. Mark 3:1-6
Withered hearts!
Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. This act of compassion becomes a point of contention for the Pharisees, who question His actions on the Sabbath. Their hearts are hardened because they lack both the ability and the willingness to act as Jesus does.
The Pharisees feel neither joy for the man who has been healed nor the maturity to appreciate the power of Jesus, who performs such deeds in their midst.
Where does criticism usually come from? It is often those who do less question those who do more. Those who do more simply move on, acknowledging others’ contributions.
How do we perceive the good that others do?
How do we react when others benefit from acts of kindness?
If the Pharisees were asked, “Should the law be upheld or not?” they might have responded.
But when asked, “Should one do good or evil?” they remain silent. They know that the decision to do good or evil is not dictated by the law but by personal intent and circumstances.
For the Pharisees, their actions seemed justified.
For the man who was healed, the law brought no benefit. Only the abundant mercy of Jesus brought him healing.
It is good to guard our hearts against being hardened by laws and regulations. The Pharisees had withered hearts.
The author of the Letter to the Hebrews, describing Jesus’ priesthood, focuses not on the lineage of Levi or Aaron but on Melchizedek. Jesus’ priesthood is not centred on the law but on mercy.
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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