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.
First Reading | Romans 9:1-5
Paul is worried about the salvation of the Jews and still has great affection for them. But he is powerless to give them faith. He shares the truth with them; he preaches the Gospel to them; but it is up to the Jews to respond to the Gospel and the offer of salvation.
1 Brothers and sisters: I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie; my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness 2 that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish tha I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. 4 They are children of Israel; theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving on the law, the worship, and the promises; 5 theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20
R: Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
12 Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion. 13 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; he has blessed your children within you. (R) 14 He has granted peace in your borders; with the best of wheat he fills you. 15 He sends forth his command to the earth; swiftly runs his word! (R) 19 He has proclaimed his word to Jacob, his statutes and his ordinances to Israel. 20 He has not done thus for any other nation; his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia. (R)
Gospel
Jesus once again heals someone on the Sabbath. He is totally unconcerned with the law against work on the Sabbath as He knows that what He is doing does not break the law. The Pharisees’ interpretation of the law is incorrect as it is not founded in love and mercy. Let us build our lives on God’s love and mercy and share these graces with others.
Gospel Acclamation
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.
Luke 14:1-6
1 On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. 2 In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy. 3 Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking, “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?” 4 But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. 5 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?” 6 But they were unable to answer his question.
