Thamajoy Reang csc –
Readings: 1Cor 5: 1 – 8; Lk 6: 6 – 11
In the first reading, Paul addresses a serious issue in the Corinthian community: sexual immorality within the church. He emphasizes the need to address this behaviour, not out of cruelty, but to protect the community and encourage repentance. He compares unchecked sin to leaven in dough—just as leaven spreads and affects the entire batch, so too can sin corrupt a community.
Therefore, Paul urges the removal of this “leaven” to maintain the Church’s purity. This reading teaches us that being with the Lord requires a sincere commitment to holiness in every aspect of our lives. We must be vigilant against sin, ensuring our presence in the community builds it up rather than harms it, striving for purity and integrity in our relationship with God and each other.
In the Gospel we see Jesus healing a man with withered hand on Sabbath and the accusations of the Scribes and Pharisees. Jesus says to the Scribes and Pharisees: “I ask you, if it be lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil; to save life, or to destroy? Jesus in this Gospel gives us the meaning of Sabbath, that Sabbath is made for man, and it is life giving, not life destroying.
Today we are called to realize that life is more important than the rules and regulations that are made by people. We are called to give life to others through our faith and not destroy.