One Sabbath when Jesus went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him. And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. And Jesus spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?" But they were silent. Then he took him and healed him, and let him go. And he said to them, "Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well, will not immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day?" And they could not reply to this.
- St. Luke 14:1-6
The Pharisees, an important Jewish religious group during the time of Jesus, emphasized the strict observance of the Law of Moses, the traditions of the elders, ritual purity, and the importance of religious devotion in daily life. They believed in the resurrection of the dead, angels, and divine judgment. They were sincere in their devotion, but they were frequently criticized by Jesus for their hypocrisy and their tendency to emphasize outward religious observance over inward holiness and mercy.
Our Lord frequently had interaction with Pharisees, and in this Gospel account He had been invited by a man of some importance, and there were other Pharisees there.
Apparently this wasn’t simply a social gathering. When Jesus arrived, He was met with silence. It was obvious that they were there to watch Jesus. They had no desire to learn from Him, but rather, to find fault. That is evidenced by the scene itself: before them stood a suffering man, yet their concern was not for him. It was for the preservation of their interpretation of the Law – what could and could not be done on the Sabbath.
Our Lord met their silence with a simple question: “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” Their silence exposed just how hard their hearts were. They knew that compassion was good, but their understanding of religion had become so rigid that they could not acknowledge goodness or the need for mercy, even when it was right in front of them.
Jesus did not allow their silence to hinder His mercy. He healed the man and sent him on his way, and in doing that He revealed the true purpose of the Sabbath. It was never intended to be a burden, but a gift. It is a day set apart for God, whose very nature is love.
Here is a reminder for us all: it is possible to be faithful in religious observance, mindful in matters of doctrine, and obedient to the commandments, yet still fail to recognize Christ in those who suffer. True holiness never separates faithfulness to God from charity toward our neighbour.
The Sabbath belongs to the Lord, Who is mercy itself. If our worship doesn’t shape our hearts, making us more generous, more compassionate, and more ready to serve, then it can become (to use the words of St. Paul) “a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal."
It is possible to be so occupied with defending what defines holiness that we forget to practice the love which makes us holy.