Mtr Mary Trainor

I was there, witnessed the miracle.
Even now I can scarce believe what my eyes saw,
What I now know. *

Dear friend,

In my lifetime, there has been an underlying presumption that this nation is Christian. Right or wrong, that notion is reflected in some cultural aspects, especially in the past.

Given our Gospel today from Mark that looks at the sabbath in another scene where Jesus runs afoul of the Pharisees, let’s view the center of dispute: The commandment in Exodus 35 addresses the matter of the sabbath and keeping it holy. The dispute? What does it mean to keep it holy?

In 1957, in Southern California, the tradition of businesses being closed on Sunday was breaking down. Even so, when my parents chose to keep their business open on Sundays, there were some murmurs in our circle.

In a quest for redemption, my parents dispatched my brother Jim and me to “represent” the family at church. We were 12 and 11 respectively, and somehow we did not feel old enough to be stand-ins for Mom and Dad.

They could not ignore their guilt, but rather than closing the business, they offered up their first- and second-born.

But it was my best friend who was healed.
And it has changed our lives for ever.

Christians take the commandments seriously, even though some ambiguity can be found in the interpretation.

When Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the sabbath in the temple, it provokes conspiracy to be rid of him. The healed man gains use of his hand, which gives that man more work options, recreation options, the ability to hold his wife, his child, or even to raise a glass to honor the one who healed him.

Why the dispute? That very healing, considered work, and thus was forbidden on the sabbath. Jesus argued for a broader view, a love-based look at easing suffering, even on the sabbath. He said the sabbath was made for humankind, not the other way around.

How can anyone be upset with that? Well, they were, and this clash with the Pharisees ultimately leads to Jesus’ death.

Don’t just accept my word, look, – here comes my friend, let him say it, prove it to you. Let him hold you firmly with both hands, with his love...

Commandments must be seen contextually. The world changes, intent is different, the way we live moves along. Some accommodation--envisioned by a heart and mind steeped in the way of love, shaped by hands of love--is recommended as a guide.

I saw a Facebook post this week that points out how commandments and rules that seemed to fit in one time, might not fit in our time. Here is an excerpt from the post: I have a neighbor who insists on working on the sabbath. Exodus 35.2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

Mtr Mary

*Excerpts from The Withered Hand Restored by Ken Cooper