So that they might accuse him

“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.” (MK 3: 1-2)

Again God’s words remind us how important it is to change the way we look at others: to see the good they do or to be more focused on accusing them. The Pharisees did not see the problem from the perspective of “a man there who had a withered hand;” they saw only a law of the sabbath and “watched Jesus … so they might accuse him.” Jesus saw a man and helped him. How often behind our actions is a good will to help others, not recognized by “watchers.”

“Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and cured every disease among the people.” (Gospel Acclamation)