“Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil,
to save life rather than to destroy it?”

mark 3:4

Mark 3:1-6

Reflection

In the synagogue, Jesus encounters a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees watch to see if Jesus will heal the man that day (the sabbath), which was unlawful. Jesus asks the Pharisees if it is better to do good rather than evil, save life rather than destroy it on the sabbath. The man’s hand is healed, and the Pharisees go away to plot Jesus’ death.

Jesus had looked at the Pharisees and was grieved at their hardness of heart. How many times do we maintain a hard heart in some opinion and will not change it, especially when it contradicts a religious matter? Jesus grieves for us and for others when this happens.

Today is a day of prayer for the legal protection of unborn children. This Gospel reading fits perfectly – for Jesus restores life and in fact, promotes it over death. How many people promote death in the name of personal freedom and choice, choosing to maintain a hard heart.

Today, let’s pray for all the unborn children and an end to abortion. Let’s also especially pray for those who promote the destruction of life, whether out of ignorance or hardness of heart. Ask Jesus to enter their hearts and transform them, making them more like his own.

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Saint of the Day

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

Check out the USCCB’s website for various pro-life prayers, holy hours, litanies, etc. Choose one of them to pray today in special recognition of all the unborn children – A Litany for Life | USCCB Mother Mary, pray for us!