Falling Into Cisterns

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking, “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?” But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. 

Then he said to them “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?”  But they were unable to answer his question. (Luke 14:1-6)

How carefully do we observe Jesus, and by that I mean have we studied and mirrored his behavior?  Have we gone beyond Church doctrine and historical decisions regarding the liturgy and other matters to what he said and did – to learn from his parables where his great wisdom can be found?  Moreover, many of his seemingly simple questions, if answered truthfully, reveal our souls, our humanity, and whether we are hypocrites and self-serving at the expense of others.  

For example, if we witness behavior contrary to our faith and Catholic morality, do we remain silent, such as the Pharisees with whom Jesus dined?  Do we speak up and act?  In other words, if someone “falls into a cistern, do we immediately pull him (her) out,” in this case meaning we call that person out while hoping to correct his/her ways, such as to stop being a hypocrite.   Or do we let that person “drown” in the pit?”  Whether on the Sabbath or any other day, we are called to action and not to be silent when we witness wrongdoing.

We may be the person in the cistern having fallen sometimes quite far and deep.  If so, we can be assured Jesus will pull us out.  We just need to take hold off the rope he lowers to us.  If not, we remain in the dark often with water over our necks.

Deacon David Pierce