Biblical scholars aver that in the gospels, there are 7 incidents in which Jesus healed on the Sabbath day. These incidences are: the healing of Simon’s mother-in-law (Lk 4:38); the man with the withered hand (Lk 6:6); the woman who was bent for 18 years (Lk 13:13); the healing of the paralytic at the pool of Bethsaida (Jn 5:9); the man born blind (Jn 9:14); the healing of the demon-possessed man in the synagogue at Capernaum (Mk 1:21) and today’s narrative in the gospel. One would have thought that the healing of the man with dropsy would have been an event of great joy. But it was greeted with apathy by the Scribes and Pharisees. For them, Jesus was a law-breaker – he healed on the Sabbath. However, for Jesus, human life cannot be sacrificed on the altar of laws. Laws were meant to be at the service of man. Jesus teaches us that life is sacred and precious and that whatever threatens life especially sickness and suffering should be attended to. Nothing can be given in exchange for human life and dignity. Let us therefore place value on human life and its edification.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me to value human life and everything that supports it. Amen