Here is today’s Gospel. From St Mark: ‘Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. And they watched him, to see whether he would heal him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out, and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him’.

Jesus’ anger and grief stand out sharply. The man’s need calls out to Him, and He responds with compassion. May we never find ourselves in a state of hardness of heart, so that we are unable to respond to others with compassion. May we also have the ‘withered places’ of our spirits healed, to as to love and serve God’s people. May He bless us all this day.