Tuesday 4th Week of Lent   3/17/26  revisited

Gospel – John 5: 1-16

Timing is Everything?

Old City of Jaffa

Back when my wife Ginger was commuting downtown to work, she would always pass by the same homeless person as she got off the expressway.  Too often backed-up traffic prevented her from digging through her purse to find something to give him.  So she made a plan. From that time on, she kept a Ziploc bag filled with granola bars and some other goodies and kept it close to her in the car for ready access whenever the need arose.  She knew that charity shouldn’t depend on timing or convenience.  It isn’t a simple 9-5 activity!

This is not the first time Jesus has gotten into trouble with the Jewish leaders for healing on the Sabbath. The Pharisees in today’s Gospel just don’t get it!  All they are concerned with is the letter of the Law and not the needs of the poor and the sick. They end up putting limits on charitable works and would rather let the paralytic suffer one more day rather than be cured.

How often have we looked on caring for others as a matter of convenience or timing?  Our convenience!  When we have the time!  Turn the situation around for a moment.  Have you ever had a flat tire or car trouble and no one stopped to help?  Have you ever fallen down and everyone just kept walking by? 

Are we so caught up in our own little world that we have no time for others in need?   The Sabbath was given to us by God and yes, we should keep it sacred.  What better way to love God than to love our suffering neighbor.  Maybe it’s as simple as visiting/calling a sick friend or leaving a bag of groceries on the doorstep of someone who can’t shop for themselves.  Timing really is everything but it’s timing based on need and not convenience.  Is there ever a bad time to do a good deed?

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