Friday, October 29th in Ordinary Time

124/365
Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy.

I sometimes read scripture and stumble on words or phrases.

What does that mean?

What is the significance of a Biblical custom that I am not familiar?

When I search further the passage becomes more alive. I often feel as if I am in an Anthropology course. In a way we are.

So when I read the word “dropsy”, I asked my wife, Anna, what it was. She basically said it was congestive heart failure characterized by edema. A good brother in Christ, Dennis, died of this disease at 45. That brought the passage home to me. I knew what now in 21st Century terms what issue the man was suffering . We also know that the man who was ill must have been a Pharisee or a noble person who was a friend. We usually invite people to dine with us who are in our social community.

Jesus is fighting with the mindset that the Law is supreme and reason should take a back seat. I think all of us try to follow the commandment to make holy the Lord’s Day. However, Nurses and Doctors work on Sunday. Priests work on Sunday. I don’t like having the meetings on Sunday but even my Knights of Columbus Assembly meeting is on Sunday night. Nonetheless, that is the point we have to do certain things. This week we had a sewer backup and all other plans stopped until it was fixed.

Think how lucky the man with dropsy was. The Pharisees we not interested in the healing of this man, but in judging Jesus. The man with the dropsy was not judging. He was looking for healing.

What is Jesus message?

Simple! We help others when we can. It doesn’t matter if they are for us or against. It doesn’t matter if it is on Sunday or any other day of the week. It may not be convenient. They may be immoral. Mostly, we cannot judge them if we help them.

God Love You Always

Bob Burford

PS: Pray for all those with Cancer. In addition I have a new request. Pray for my God Son, AJ. His parents are considering pulling the plug on this 24 year old young man. He has multiple medical problems. He has the mental capacity of a 5 year old. Most doctors would have given up on him at 15. He is alive today mostly because of his mom and dad (mostly his mom) . His blood oxygen is extremely low and the doctors have no solution. Pray for him and his parents.

Picture Credit :“124/365” by Kim Siever is marked with CC PDM 1.0

About the Author

My name is Bob Burford and am married to my lovely bride, Anna. I am a cradle Catholic and worship at Church of Saint Mary's in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I am active in the Knights of Columbus and praying where the Lord wants both of us to serve in our new faith home. College degrees in Economics and Accounting. My wife and I have eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Love Pope Frances and proclaiming the Word of the Lord in my life! Please pray for all the Ukrainian people. Pray for their salvation and physical and emotional health.

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16 Comments

  1. Please note the heart in the picture is imperfect. The wood and the heart are a little off. Jesus knows we are imperfect. Our choice is to help others whenever and on whatever day we can. I forgot to add this.

  5. Bob,

    I’m also a father of a seriously mentally handicapped son who also was only supposed to live until he was 15 at the most. He’s 38 and his favorite thing to do is play with his box of baby rattles. I completely understand AJ’s parents thoughts at this time. Afraid to lose him but also happy that his earthly trial may soon be over along with their worries of how he will be taken care off after they are gone.
    The gifts that these broken children give us during their earthly existence, perseverance, compassion and loving example we give as parents through the daily trials of serving their very basic human needs, helps to inspire people around us to think about their blessings. Therefore the lives of these special children have purpose. They suffer greatly without complaining and are full of joy.

  6. Bob, like you when doing the readings I looked up dropsy to better understand what the man was suffering from. Thank you for your insightful reflection. I pray for AJ and his parents. I can’t even imagine having to make that decision for my child. May God guide them and give them His peace. I pray also for those with cancer. 🙏🙏🙏

  8. Bob,
    Thank you for the beautiful reflection. I also will pray for your Godson and all those with cancer. Please keep us updated on how your loved ones are doing.

  9. Thank you Bob. We pray for your Godson and the strength of his parents. May the mercy of God be with AJ and his family.

  10. As always, CM awakens my heart and soul, to see and feel things I didn’t want to see or understand. The entire CM community remains in my daily prayers. Bob and John, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Our loving Savior gave you such beautiful gifts, I cannot imagine what losing such a gift would be like.

  11. Thank you Bob for this awakening reflection. My prayers go out for AJ and the family. I can’t even imagine having to make that decision for my child. God’s speed!

  12. Thank you for sharing your always honest and thoughtful reflection Bob.Rest assured that our prayers for your godson,Anna and the rest of your family are ongoing.
    Continued prayers for Bill and other sick members of ACM community.

  14. Bob, prayers for AJ and all with cancer

    John, what you wrote touched my heart. I am and always will be the mom of two boys with muscular dystrophy. They both now rest in the freedom of heaven. They suffered greatly without complaining and they were definitely full of joy and gave a lot of joy. God bless your son.

  15. Lord, may Your will be done with AJ. If he is to live, give him a comfortable life. If You take him home, allow his parents and family a short grief and long-lasting memories of a life well fought. In Jesus’ precious Name, Amen

  16. I am praying that before AJ’s parents make this decision to pull the plug, that they may see the sacred gift and that only the Creator makes that decision when it will be over.
    AJ’s life when he was born bringing in LOVE as their child with the gift and ability to place themselves in his constant need of them developing EMPATHY to care about his circumstance.
    AJ’s life and his parents life fulfilling the Creator’s purpose in having AJ be a constant reminder of central coherence across a variety of tasks, making way to focus on details with a refining process for the three of them, as well as the readers like me to see God’s constant connection in the lifeHe breathed into AJ. Our Creator saw everything He made not good but Very Good. Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of every son and daughter of Yours and enkindle in us Your Love.

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