so Jesus asked the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath
or not?” But no one answered. Jesus then took the man, healed him and sent him away.
And he addressed them, “If your lamb or your ox falls into a well on a Sabbath day,
who among you doesn’t hurry to pull it out?” And they could not answer.
Reflect
Paul affirms that the Jews, the people of Israel, are God’s chosen people. God has a long
relationship with his people, bound by law and covenant, strengthened by the patriarchs
and prophets. Sometimes, people in our day forget this special relationship. Jesus, Mary,
Joseph, all the apostles, and Paul himself were Jews. Most of the early members of the
Church were Jews as well. After the descent of the Holy Spirit, the apostles preached to
Jews who had gathered
in Jerusalem for the feast. Much of the early preaching recounted in the Acts of the
Apostles was centered on the temple in Jerusalem and local synagogues.
In our days, as incidents of antisemitic hatred and violence increase around the world, it
is important that we remember that the Jewish people are God’s chosen people, our elder
brothers and sisters in faith in the one true God. As such, we should treat them with love
and respect, Let us work to end all antisemitism so that God’s people may continue to love
in fidelity to the covenant.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2023