Precedence of Human Needs

September 11, Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: Colossians 1:24–2:3; Luke 6:6–11

Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it? (Luke 6:9)

Jesus healed a man on a Sabbath day whose right hand was paralyzed. The Pharisees were filled with rage watching the incident and discussing among themselves how to finish Him off because the healing on the Sabbath day was a serious violation of the Sabbath, according to them.  

Even when Jesus knew that the Pharisees were prejudiced and furious against him, he did it deliberately to send a strong message to them that their interpretation of the law on the Sabbath was inhuman and oppressive, and his mission included the liberation of people from such bonds. Blind guides, the Pharisees, could not see the enormous joy of the one who is healed of disease.

Human needs acquire the first place in the “law of Jesus”. Human needs have precedence over ritual customs in the teaching of Jesus. Any “ism” or ideology that belittles human dignity is not acceptable to Jesus. The disciples of Jesus cannot and should not tolerate any law, custom, or tradition that is oppressive and discriminatory in nature and stands against the liberating mission of Jesus.

Does your rigid interpretation of codes, rules, and regulations prevent you from helping people in need? In the law of love, the human person is above all things. Amen.