Homily for Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time

As we just heard in today’s Gospel, a synagogue official insists that work should not occur on the Sabbath. Jesus maintains that God’s work may be done on any day of the week. He was doing God’s work by releasing a woman from whatever stopped her from standing upright. He untied her bonds; He set her free from what kept her back.

For Jesus, life-giving work is always appropriate. There is no day, no time when it may not be done. He wants us all to share in His work of freeing people from what holds them back. We are to be friends to others, kind to others, forgiving others as God has forgiven us, loving as Christ has loved us. This way, we share in the LORD’s life-giving and redeeming work, not so that we may receive glory, but so that through it, others may give glory to God.