Jesus 2. Pharisees 0.

In today’s Gospel from the Mass, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1-6).  Like yesterday’s Gospel, the Pharisees again get humiliated on the Sabbath.

[1] Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. [2] And they watched him, to see whether he would heal him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him.  [3] And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come here.”  [4] 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.  [5] 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.  [6] The Pharisees went out, and immediately held counsel with the Hero’di-ans against him, how to destroy him.

Yesterday’s Gospel recalls how the Pharisees seek to ambush Jesus on the Sabbath.  In today’s Gospel, Jesus goes on the offensive, not waiting for the Pharisees to ask any questions.  And the Pharisees are afraid to say anything…but they sneak off and begin planning how they will kill Jesus.  Like snakes.