Stretch Out Your Hand

One sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.” Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. Mark 2:23—3:6

Loving Creator your hands made us

and everything on this sacred place

you breathe life into every being

and offer healing in every season.

We humans like to codify rules 

quick to judging and to shunning

even when we are seeing miracles

even as creation is being restored.

You understood hunger and pain

filling needs without judgement

love your first act and your last

grieving for the hardness of our hearts.

Help us to reach out daily to you

and let us be those who bring love

may our every act be for healing

so that your love might shine in us. Amen.