Withered Hands

Jesus entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand. They watched Jesus closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him. He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.” 

Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. 

Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death. (Mark 3:1-6)

Do we have withered hands?  These are the hands reflecting hardness of heart.  We cannot – we choose not – to extend them to those in need of help and comfort.  They are withered.  We must stretch out our hands.  They can be restored meaning our hearts can warm and be opened.

Jesus’ heart was more than warm and open.  It was sacred.  Ours can be the same when we let the divine within us control us and beckon people to come up before us for blessings and acts of love.  

We must always save life and not destroy it through evil acts and immoral behavior.  In fact, when we choose to do good, the life we save will be our own.

Deacon David Pierce