Have my hands withered? Jesus Tells us "Stretch out Your Hands? Am I ready?

Gospel Thoughts

*Ordinary Season : 23rd Week - Monday*

*GOSPEL - Col 1:24:2:3*

*First Reading - Lk 6:6-11*

*Have my hands withered? Jesus Tells us "Stretch out Your Hands? Am I ready?*

*1) Man With withered Hand*

The Gospel of the day presents to us a man with the withered hand. 

At the peripheral level, it is a physical disability which makes a person unable to function in a normal way

Beyond this physical ailment, can we see any other meaning for our life? Let's see 

*2) Jesus cures his sickness*

The Gospel also shows us that Jesus heals the man through the power of His words 

He said to the man, stretch out your hands, and he was able to stretch out his hands. 

We can consider this as a miracle, which Jesus performed for the sake of the people, which has many lessons to communicate to the people around

*3) Stretching out Hand is the Symbol of Doing good rather than bad*

In this incident, the scribes and Pharisees were keenly watching Jesus whether Jesus would heal him on the sabbath day 

By healing on the sabbath day, Jesus communicates a powerful message that : Doing good is more important than anything else. 

There is nothing equal for doing good. That is the highest activity a person can do 

*4) Stretching out hand is the symbol of Saving life*

Life comes first than anything else. Saving life is another important task that every human being should take into account

Withered hand is a symbol of distorted life, which makes life difficult in many ways. Stretching out hand is the restoration of the life, which needs to be taken care of 

*5) Have my hands withered for good works and saving life?*

Today the important question is, what is my attitude towards good works and life? 

The moment we fail to perform good works, we are like the man who had withered hands 

Doing bad things also the result, because the good hands are withered

So the moment we do any kinds of bad things or any  evil things, our hands, mind, hearts, vision and our entire life get withered, which make us impossible to perform any good work 

*6) Withered Hands and Saving life*

Jesus tells us clearly that, by healing the man, he shows the importance of saving the life

Any activity which we do in our life should help us to save life and not to destroy life

*The following things go against life, which is the effect of withered hands, mind, and conscience*

Anger, revenge, jealousy, gossip, arrogance, division, selfishness, greed, etc, which go against saving of life 

*7) Withered conscience is more dangerous than anything else*

Conscience is the centre of our being, which tells us what is good and what is bad,

The moment we have withered conscience, is the beginning of our end and we also destroy others life. 

So we should never allow the conscience to wither. 

*8) What Jesus says to me today?*

Jesus says stretch out your vision, stretch out your conscience, stretch out your heart, stretch out your mind, stretch out your ears to listen the word of God and pain of the suffering, 

Stretch out your life, for generosity, simplicity, humility, sincerity, sacrifice, service, love

*Am I ready?*

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*