Daily Catholic Lectio. Fri, 31 October ’25. Exception as Law

Daily Catholic Lectio

Fri, 31 Oct ‘25

Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time, Friday

Romans 9:1–5. Luke 14:1–6

Exception as Law

Today’s Gospel presents yet another healing of Jesus on the Sabbath day. This time, it happens in the house of a Pharisee who had invited Him for a meal. In that house sits a man suffering from dropsy. It is not a disease easily visible to others. Perhaps someone told Jesus about it, or the man himself spoke of it, or Jesus, moved by compassion, noticed and inquired about his suffering.

What strikes us most in this passage is the natural authority and humane sensitivity of Jesus. Wherever He goes, He becomes the centre — not by dominance, but by presence. Some people have that gift: their very presence radiates care and draws others toward life. Jesus had this in fullness.

Seeing the sick man before Him, Jesus cannot remain silent or indifferent. For Him, a meal cannot be joyful when someone before Him suffers. The Sabbath law, which prohibited work, stands before Him as a challenge. Yet, rather than breaking it impulsively, Jesus turns to the Pharisees and asks: “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” They remain silent — trapped between their law and their lack of love. Then Jesus, moved by compassion, takes the man by the hand and heals him.

Afterward, Jesus poses another question that reveals His wisdom and humanity: “If your son or your ox falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?” The Gospel notes simply: “They could not reply.”

Here, Jesus turns what was considered an exception into a rule of love. For Him, doing good, helping the needy, healing the broken — these are never exceptions to the law but expressions of the deepest law of all: love itself. The law exists for life, not life for the law.

In our own times, we often live surrounded not only by external rules but by inner ones we create for ourselves: “I can’t do this; I shouldn’t step beyond that; people will talk.” We build invisible fences around our hearts. We think faithfulness means never crossing those boundaries. But every situation in life is new — it asks for discernment, compassion, and courage.

Jesus reminds us that love gives meaning to the law. The Sabbath finds its true fulfilment not in restriction but in restoration. The purpose of every commandment is to lead us toward mercy.

There is a saying: “In love and in war, there are no rules.” In Christ, this becomes holy truth. Love itself is the highest rule. When compassion guides us, what seems an exception becomes the true law.

In the first reading, Paul expresses his deep sorrow for his own people, the Israelites, who have not recognized Christ. His love for them is so great that he says he would even accept being cut off from Christ if it could help them. Like Jesus, Paul teaches us that love transcends limits and breaks barriers.

Thus, both Jesus and Paul remind us: God’s law is not rigidity but relationship. It is not a fence, but a doorway to compassion. Let us pray that our hearts may be large enough to see love not as an exception, but as the rule by which every action, every decision, and every day is to be lived.

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy