Rules Should Not Hurt

Reflection Date: October 26, 2026 | Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: Ephesians 4:32–5:8; Luke 13:10-17

Children of God:
During the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines, our national hero José Rizal used his writings to expose abuses and injustices experienced by Filipinos under colonial rule. 

In his novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, he portrayed the suffering of ordinary people under abusive authorities and religious figures who misused their positions. 

His writings challenged readers to recognize the gap between the ideals that institutions proclaimed and the way some people experienced their authority. Rizal’s works also revealed how rules, social customs, and powerful institutions could be used to protect privilege while ordinary people suffered. 

His writings helped awaken Filipino consciousness and contributed to the growing movement for reform and national dignity. 

Rizal often reminded that laws and institutions must be examined according to how they treat human beings, a lesson that connects with the gospel story of Jesus, who challenged religious leaders when their strict interpretation of the Sabbath prevented them from recognizing a suffering woman’s need for healing.

What are our inspirations for today?

First, rules must protect human dignity and never become excuses for ignoring someone’s suffering.

In the gospel story of Luke, Jesus taught in a synagogue on the Sabbath when He encountered a woman who suffered from a crippling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not stand up straight. 

When Jesus saw her, He called her forward, laid His hands on her, and healed her. 

However, the synagogue leader became indignant because Jesus performed the healing on the Sabbath. Jesus answered by pointing out that people untied their oxen or donkeys to lead them to water on the Sabbath, so it was reasonable to set the woman free from her suffering on that day (Luke 13:10-16).

Rules serve an important purpose in our families, workplaces, schools, and communities. They establish order, promote fairness, and help people live together peacefully. 

However, we must examine how we apply those rules, especially when someone faces an emergency or experiences hardship. A workplace policy should not prevent a supervisor from listening compassionately to an employee in distress, and a family tradition should not become an excuse for humiliating someone who makes a mistake.

Sometimes, we become so concerned about procedures that we forget the people those procedures are supposed to serve. We insist on following the schedule even when someone needs urgent assistance, or we refuse to make a reasonable adjustment because we want to avoid an exception. 

Jesus reminds us that rules must be applied with wisdom and compassion. We respect legitimate responsibilities while remaining attentive to human needs, because every person deserves to be treated with dignity.

Rules must protect human dignity and never become excuses for ignoring someone’s suffering.

Second, compassion requires the courage to do what is right even when others disagree.

Jesus knew that healing the woman on the Sabbath would provoke criticism from the synagogue leader, yet He responded to her suffering with mercy. 

He called her a daughter of Abraham, affirming her dignity and her place among God’s people (Luke 13:16). 

The woman was no longer treated merely as someone burdened by a long illness; Jesus recognized her as a person worthy of attention, freedom, and restoration. His actions challenged those who valued their interpretation of religious rules more than the well-being of a suffering human being.

In our daily lives, doing what is right sometimes means speaking up when someone is treated unfairly. 

We may see a colleague being humiliated, a student being bullied, an elderly person being neglected, or a vulnerable family being denied assistance. Remaining silent may feel safer, especially when the person responsible holds authority or influence. 

However, compassion invites us to speak respectfully, offer support, and seek a fair solution instead of pretending that nothing is wrong.

We can practice this courage through simple actions. We can defend someone who is being mocked, listen to a person whose concerns are dismissed, or help someone navigate a difficult situation. We can also question practices that repeatedly disadvantage the poor or vulnerable, while remaining respectful and committed to fairness. 

Jesus teaches us that genuine goodness sometimes requires us to stand firm in doing what is right, even when our actions challenge expectations or invite criticism.

Compassion requires the courage to do what is right even when others disagree.

As we reflect, we ask ourselves: Do I sometimes follow rules so rigidly that I overlook the struggles and needs of other people? 

When I witness someone being treated unfairly, do I remain silent to protect my comfort or speak up with courage and respect? How can I use my position, influence, or responsibilities today to make another person’s life a little easier?

Children of God:
Our faith calls us to see the person behind every rule, responsibility, and decision. 

We can preserve order while remaining compassionate toward those who struggle. 

We can respect authority while speaking up when its application causes unnecessary suffering. 

Every day, we have opportunities to make our homes, workplaces, and communities more humane through thoughtful and courageous acts of kindness. 

May we follow the example of Jesus by choosing mercy, protecting human dignity, and making compassion a guiding principle in everything we do.