March 11th, 2021

“On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored.” (Luke 6:6-10)

In this passage from Luke, Jesus heals a man’s withered hand. It is important that it is the man’s right hand. In that culture, the right hand was considered “clean” and therefore used for nourishment and social interaction. (Sorry lefties!) Jesus is making an important point about the Sabbath in this episode, but the depth of His care for the man should not be lost in the theological shuffle. Not only does He heal the man physically, He restores Him to his community.

Not a stone goes unturned in God’s comprehensive care for you. Most especially, the stone upturned on the Third Day which delivers us from death!

“We thank you, heavenly Father, that you have delivered us from the dominion of sin and death and brought us into the kingdom of your Son; and we pray that, as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his love he may raise us to eternal joys; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Saturday in Easter Week – BCP p. 224)