Lk 6:6-11 Avoiding The ObviousThe scribes and the Pharisees watched [Jesus] 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 a withered hand, “Come up and stand before us.” And he rose and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?”
While the Pharisees and the scribes were searching for an answer, Jesus worked his miracle. He restored the man’s health and those who opposed the Lord became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Him.
We pride ourselves in the fact that we live in a nation in which the press is free. It is not free at all. It is ideologically driven to either the left or to the right. It is supported and paid for by individuals and corporations that have very, very deep pockets. It is not a “press of the people” but a “press for some people.” It is not fair or balanced. It is poor and politically correct.
Take for instance CNN’s reporting of the 9/11 memorial. I find very interesting and meaningless CNN’s article entitled, “Four ways 9/11 changed America’s attitude toward religion.” I have not even bothered to read the article because all I needed to read was the caption underneath its accompanying photograph (it is the same photograph I use above). It reads, “Construction workers move steel beam pulled from ground zero rubble into its permanent home at the 9/11 Memorial Museum.”
How amusing and how pathetic!
It is truly a sorrowful reflection of how our nation’s “free press” will go out of its way to avoid mentioning the word “cross”; even to the point of avoiding using the term “cross beam”!
The Pharisees and the scribes avoided the obvious in order to preserve their self-righteousness! Today’s free press, similar to that of the Pharisees and scribes, work diligently in avoiding the obvious to preserve their self-righteousness; that is, of being independent, above the law, above scrutiny, above ethics and morals, above the truth!
The fact of the matter, that which is remarkable and noteworthy, is that this Cross, the most obvious sign of Christianity (and of brotherly love) stood alone in the midst of rubble! It is also noteworthy how no other religious symbol was formed in the rubble of a building that once stood 1368 feet high.
It is not I who says it but the facts that speak it! It was not us who left it; it was we who found it! The only aspect of this story that requires any type of faith is the connection that it has with the Christian message. The message being that when this world turns to rubble, only the Cross (the love of God) will stand above it!
That Cross, found in the rubble, brought tears to rescue workers as well as meaning to families who had lost a loved one. The Cross of Christ continues to bring tears to followers and meaning to families who have lost a loved one.
Let us not avoid the obvious. Let us bow down and adore it!
