Jesus did not conform to the “red tape” of the religious leaders but instead focused on giving the sick man a better life. What parallels can we draw in our lives? If for example we have anger or unforgiveness in our hearts towards someone, is there an unwillingness to restore the relationship? Do we prefer to remain silent and harden our hearts because of our stubbornness and rigid beliefs? Jesus is asking us to stretch out our withered hands, so that he can restore and heal the broken areas in our lives. He wants to remove our hearts of stone and replace them with hearts of flesh. When our hearts are ready to obey, we will discover the power of God working in us and through us in the lives of others. It will ignite the same love and compassion in our hearts for other people as Jesus had. Let us invite Jesus to touch those areas in our lives which are causing pain and suffering, so that he can heal, restore and set us free from our afflictions.

PRAYER: Abba Father, may we bring the withered parts of ourselves to you for healing. Amen.