January 20, 2013. Homily, January 23, 2013

 Optional memorial of St. Vincent, deacon, martyred early 4th century in Valencia, Spain with his bishop Valerius after undergoing torture.

Mark 3:1-6
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.
The Gospel of the Lord.

Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil.
to save life rather than to destroy it.

to do good          to restore the withered hand, to cure him
to save life          to restore the withered hand, to cure him

to do evil            to watch Jesus closely so that they might accuse him, when questioned by Jesus to          remain silent, to take counsel with the Herodians against Jesus to put him to death
to destroy [life]   to prevent the cure from occurring on God's day, when questioned by Jesus to          remain silent, to take counsel with the Herodians against Jesus to put him to death