I can often be so wrapped up in my own world, I forget the bigger world around me. In recent months, I met and saw old friends and family whom I have not seen or met for a long time. In my mind, they have remained the same as when I last saw them. But I sooner realize how much they have grown and changed. They had their own lives to live and their own world to create. They went ahead without me.
The Pharisees had their own worldview from which they saw and interpreted the world and everything around them. Whatever and whoever did not conform to that worldview was condemned as immoral, blasphemous and contrary to the will of the God in theirs minds. When Christ came declaring that people were more important than the Sabbath, they called Him a blasphemer. They feared Him for He was destroying their world as they saw it.
Today, Jesus still challenges my own worldview. When I become too engrossed with myself, he challenges me to think of others instead. When I wallow in self-pity, He makes me aware of the many blessing He has bestowed upon me and my loved ones. When I become too full of myself and proud, He shows me that everything is gift from God and I am filled with gratitude and humility. When everything seems to be going wrong in my life, He shows me the cross and how it leads to the Resurrection. And when I am happy, He dwells and abides with me in solitude and with His presence.
“Lord, keep my spirit from becoming withered. Come and stay in my life with your life-giving presence.”
He said to the man with the withered hand,
“Come up here before us.”
Then he said to the Pharisees,
“Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil,
to save life rather than to destroy it?”
But they remained silent.
Looking around at them with anger
and grieved at their hardness of heart,
Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”
He stretched it out and his hand was restored.
The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel
with the Herodians against him to put him to death.
Mark 3:1-6