On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking,“Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?” But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. Then he said to them “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?” But they were unable to answer his question.
REFLECTION
“Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?”
In Genesis 1:27, we read:
“God created mankind in His image; in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.”
God has impressed His image upon our very being, like a seal pressed into wax! His divine imprint is within each of us.
Yet, how often do we fail to recognize His presence in one another? Could this be why we sometimes struggle to help, forgive, or love our neighbor?
Sin obscures. It clouds our eyes to compassion, closes our ears to the cries of others, hardens our hearts against love and mercy, and silences our tongues when we should speak up and defend those in need.
Suddenly, a Pharisaical silence fills our hearts and minds. We become so consumed with ourselves, our judgments, and our self-righteousness that we lose sight of God in others—and risk losing our very souls.
Only the grace of God can free us from this spiritual blindness. We must learn to be meek and humble of heart, asking Jesus to transform our hearts to be like His—full of compassion, mercy, humility, and love.
The question, then, is not simply whether God's image is in me, but whether others can recognize Him through the way I live, speak, serve, and love.
May I never fail to recognize God's image in the person standing before me, no matter who that person may be.
Comments