Grieving the heart of God
January 22, 2025 - Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Mark 3:1-6
Once again, we encounter Jesus in conflict with religious authorities over the Sabbath. His question is simple and striking: “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath, or to do harm? To save life, or to kill?” (Mark 3:4). For us, the answer seems obvious—it is always right to do good and save life, on the Sabbath or any day of the week. But why was this not so evident in Jesus’ time?
For devout Jews, the Sabbath was sacred, a day of total rest from work. Many believed that national suffering stemmed from failing to observe the Law of Moses, particularly the command to keep the Sabbath holy. The prophet Isaiah had linked Sabbath observance with blessings of prosperity and peace (Isa. 58:13-14), and some rabbis even taught that if all Jews observed the Sabbath perfectly for just one day, the Messiah would come. Against this backdrop, the Pharisees viewed Jesus’ actions as a direct challenge to their understanding of the Law.
“They watched Jesus closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him” (Mark 3:2). Healing on the Sabbath was considered work and thus a violation of the Law. Yet their strict interpretation ignored the deeper intent of the Sabbath—a day meant to honor God and bring rest and renewal to His people. Jesus confronted their hypocrisy, pointing out in other instances that they themselves performed acts like circumcision on the Sabbath without question (John 7:22-23). But no amount of reasoning could penetrate their hardened hearts.
The Gospel highlights two surprising elements in this encounter. First, the Pharisees, religious leaders, aligned with the Herodians, a political group loyal to King Herod. These two factions were ordinarily at odds—like oil and water. Yet their shared opposition to Jesus united them. Second, in their zeal to safeguard one commandment about the Sabbath, they plotted to violate another by conspiring to kill Him. Their actions vividly illustrated what Apostle James later taught: “Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10).
Jesus’ response to their behavior is striking: He looked at them with anger and was deeply grieved by their hardness of heart (Mark 3:5). What made Him angry? Their legalism had blinded them to the very heart of the Law—love and mercy. They were more concerned with rules than with the suffering of a man in need of healing.
This passage challenges us today. How often do we prioritize rigid rules or personal agendas over the well-being of others? When our legalistic views or self-righteousness outweigh compassion, we grieve the heart of God. The Sabbath—and, by extension, our faith—is not about legalism but about life, love, and healing. Each time we act with mercy, we align ourselves with Jesus, who calls us to see beyond the letter of the law to its spirit: the restoration and flourishing of humanity.