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Seeing is Believing?
On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and
there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes
and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on
the sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him. But
he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered
hand, “Come up and stand before us.” And he rose and stood there.
Luke 6:6–8
Even on the surface, the thinking and actions of the Pharisees are
absurd. They had become blinded by their jealousy for power and
envy of Jesus. This is clearly evident in the fact that they were
hoping Jesus would perform a miraculous healing on the Sabbath—not
because they desired a man to be healed or longed to see divine
authority at work, but because they had decided that miracles were
considered “work” and, therefore, a violation of the Sabbath law of
rest. The absurdity of their reasoning is shocking.
Even an atheist who witnessed a miraculous healing would find it
difficult to explain away or ignore. Only the Creator, who
established the laws of nature, is capable of bending those laws at
will.
What makes the Pharisees such a pitiful group of men is not that
they disbelieved Jesus’ miracles, but that they believed and
intentionally rejected the meaning of those miracles. Miracles
were, in part, signs of Jesus’ divine identity. The Pharisees
clearly witnessed the sign with their own eyes, but what they saw
was not able to purge their self-centeredness. Rather than worship
Jesus, they rejected Him and began to plan His destruction.
Imagine being there in the synagogue, witnessing the miraculous
healing of this man’s hand. Being a local synagogue, the people
present most likely had known the man for years, and his withered
hand would have been undeniable—as would the cure. Consider also,
as you watch the miracle, the reaction of the Pharisees. Rather
than rejoicing in the goodness of God or falling to their knees in
awe and gratitude, they seethe with anger. Their hearts are so
hardened by pride and selfishness that even the undeniable power of
God does not move them. Instead of seeing this act as a
manifestation of divine love and mercy, they see it as a threat to
their authority. And rather than allowing the miracle to open their
hearts to faith, they begin to plot against Jesus.
In each of our lives, the absurdity of the Pharisees’ irrational
hate could easily arise. At times, others might treat us or our
loved ones with a disdain that is so irrational, we sit back in
confusion, declaring that such actions make no sense—because they
don’t. This irrational thinking can also tempt each of us when we
allow the sins of jealousy and envy to fester in our souls. Those
sins lead to irrational and, at times, absurd thinking.
Though the Pharisees are anything but inspiring, their witness can
inspire us in another way—shocking us into an awareness of just how
destructive pride and envy can be. The Pharisees’ bad example
becomes a warning and a call to self-examination. When we see grace
at work in others, our hearts must be filled with gratitude, not
tainted by jealousy or envy.
Reflect today on the irrationality and spiritual blindness that can
arise from self-centeredness, jealousy, and envy. Consider the
Pharisees—not to condemn them, but to recognize how easily the same
temptations can take root in our own hearts. When God blesses
others, are you able to rejoice? When someone else is praised,
succeeds, or receives grace, does your heart rise in gratitude or
fall into resentment? Be honest. Pray for the grace to be humble,
so that you never fall into the trap of rejecting what is good
simply because it did not come through you. Let the Pharisees’
behavior serve not only as a warning, but as a call to sincere
self-reflection, repentance, and faith.
My divine Lord, Your power is undeniable, and Your identity
certain. When You act in this world, Your grace and goodness become
manifest for all to see. Give me the grace I need always to rejoice
in the good You do, especially when it is done in and through
others. Free me from the jealousy that resents Your blessings in my
neighbor and from the envy that blinds me to Your presence outside
of myself. May I humbly love You in every way You come to me,
whether through Your Word, Your Sacraments, or the holiness of
those around me. Jesus, I trust in You.
Image: Healing the Man with a Withered Hand, by Carl Jobst
and Franz Jobst
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