MONDAY OF THE THIRTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, OCTOBER 24, 2023

MASS READINGS:

A reading of the holy Gospel according to LK 13:10-17

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, “Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, “There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.” The Lord said to him in reply, “Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering? This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?” When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

The Gospel of the Lord

REFLECTION

The Lord said to him in reply, “Hypocrites!

There were many advantages growing up in a border town: Two languages were learned, grew up in a small loving Catholic community, had a steadfast group of friends and enjoyed the best Mexican food!!

Yes, it was a border town but essentially I lived in two countries.

The rules differed from Mexico and USA: the Church in Mexico allowed meat on Friday while the Church in the USA had abstinence of meat. In Mexico there was no age requirements for alcohol consumption while in the USA it was 21. Back then there were no drug cartels, so grocery shopping was done on the Mexican side and eating at Mexican restaurants was a common but special treat.

My father, however, had his own set of rules which took priority over the USA and Mexico. We were not allowed to cross the border without a parent being with us, no alcohol consumption before 21, and observing Friday abstinence was enforced. Would I obey my father or do as many did, lie about their whereabouts? Would I dare disrespect my father?

He would find out the truth, eventually, as he knew all the border agents and they all knew who I was. Did I obey him because I loved him or because I did not want to get in trouble?

Looking back it was a little of both, but mostly I loved him too much to hurt him. I wanted to please him, and do all to make him happy. Love drove me to follow his will to perfection, though, I was not at all a perfect teenager. But I did try at times to do my best.

We are told by St Paul to be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love. Psalm 1 says "Blessed the man who delights in the law of the Lord......For the Lord watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes."

The leader of the synagogue in the Gospel had a shriveled heart, closed mind and was more zealous about observing the man made law than helping the suffering woman. And what a time for Jesus not to remain quiet!! The Lord said to him in reply, “Hypocrites!

When we don't follow God's law aren't we hypocrites?

Love God as best as we can, always try to please Him and make Him happy. Or we can spend our days like the infirmed lady looking down, oppressed and uncared for.

Our loving Father always knows best. I am now able to understand my father's rules. The events of growing up now have taken on a new meaning.

God bless you