3rd Wednesday of Advent (December 17). More valuable than sheep

Prepare to Listen.  How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep!
 
Prayerfully Read Matthew 12:9-14
9He left that place and entered their synagogue; 10a man was there with a withered hand, and they asked him, “Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath?” so that they might accuse him.  11He said to them, “Suppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out?  12How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep!  So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”  13Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”  He stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other.  14But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.
 
Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect
When showing mercy to another person could mean disregarding the accepted norms of your society, norms you’ve always lived by, what choice will you make?  Be honest.
 
In the previous story (vv. 1-8), Jesus accused the Pharisees of not understanding the meaning of Hosea’s message about God, who said, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice” (Hos. 6:6).  Perhaps still furious after that rebuke, they decided to use the man with a withered hand in their synagogue to test Jesus, hoping he’d give them a reason to condemn him.
 
Their question and Jesus’ response confirmed their failure to understand that God desired mercy (compassion, empathy) not sacrifice.  They were more concerned about their sheep than the people.  But people, says Jesus, matter more than sheep!  And then he answered their question with a categorical: “So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”  Showing mercy, ensuring that people don’t suffer unjustly, always takes precedence, even if that means disobeying the accepted norms of the community.  Jesus chose mercy.  Without skipping a beat he healed the man with a withered hand. 

Caught in their own hypocrisy, the Pharisees left “and conspired against him, how to destroy him,” proving Jesus right.  They didn’t understand God’s desire for mercy rather than sacrifice, and thus rejected Jesus’ teaching that doing good, showing mercy is always lawful.
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What challenged you about Jesus’ response to the Pharisees?  How can you live more like Jesus today?
 
Prayerfully Respond
Lord, thank you for standing up to authority, healing a man on the Sabbath and teaching us that following you often means taking the unpopular way of choosing good over keeping the rules.  Help me to live your way today.  Amen.
 
Live Obediently.  Choose doing good and showing mercy.​