First Reading - 1 Corinthians 5:1-8
Gospel - Luke 6:6-11
In the first reading, Paul confronts the Corinthian community about a serious moral failing: a man living in a sinful relationship with his stepmother. Paul expresses his shock and dismay that such behavior is being tolerated within the community. He strongly urges the Corinthians to take action and remove the individual from their fellowship in order to preserve the purity and holiness of the Church. Paul uses the image of yeast to illustrate how a small amount of sin, if left unchecked, can spread and corrupt the whole community. He encourages them to "clean out the old yeast" and to celebrate their Christian life with the "unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." This passage reminds us of the importance of maintaining moral integrity and seeking holiness in our personal lives and in our communities.
In the Gospel, we witness another confrontation, this time between Jesus and the Pharisees. Jesus is teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath when He encounters a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees are watching closely, hoping to catch Jesus breaking the Sabbath law by healing on this holy day. Jesus knows their thoughts and challenges them with a question: "Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?" Without waiting for a response, He heals the man, restoring his hand to full function. The Pharisees, instead of rejoicing at the miracle, are filled with fury and begin plotting against Jesus.
The contrast between Jesus and the Pharisees in this passage is stark. While the Pharisees are rigidly focused on the letter of the law, Jesus demonstrates that the true purpose of the law is to bring healing and life. For Jesus, acts of mercy and compassion take precedence over strict legalism. This passage calls us to examine our own attitudes: Are we more concerned with rules and regulations than with showing love and mercy to those in need?
The readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our Christian calling. In the first reading, Paul reminds us of the need for personal and communal holiness. We are called to root out sin from our lives and to live in sincerity and truth. At the same time, the Gospel challenges us to prioritize mercy, compassion, and the well-being of others over rigid adherence to laws or customs.
As followers of Christ, we are called to live in a way that reflects both the moral integrity Paul speaks of and the mercy that Jesus demonstrates. Let us strive to be people of sincerity, truth, and compassion, always seeking to do good and to bring life to those around us.
May we be open to both the call to holiness and the call to mercy in our daily lives.
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