Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
January 19, 2022
Daily Reading from the USCCB: Mark 3:1-6
Another dispute about the Sabbath. This time it’s Jesus who raises the question. “Is it permissible for me to cure this man on the Sabbath?” Jesus knew the Pharisees were watching him to see if they could find some pretext to cause him trouble.
They don’t answer. Jesus is angered by their lack of compassion. In a kind of “in your face” gesture Jesus cures the man.
Up to this point the religious leaders were merely skeptical about Jesus and his claim of authority. But now that Jesus has treated them with public disdain because of their lack of concern for the afflicted man, the atmosphere changes. Now they want to get rid of Jesus and his claims once and for all.
