Therefore, let us celebrate the feast,
not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness,
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Jesus is the lamb without blemish. He is the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth that we receive in the Eucharist. This is our feast as Christians. We are called to become what we receive. We each still have an old man with sinful tendencies. Yet, as Christians filled with the Spirit we no longer have to live in accord with a former manner of life. We can be renewed, starting with our minds, from the inside out (see Ephesians 4:22-24) until our entire beings reflect the new life we receive in the Eucharist.
Before we are renewed we are always carefully watching Jesus. We assume there are only certain conditions and situations in which it is appropriate for him to exhibit his 'religious influence'. We are all too ready to shut Jesus out when he seems to be overstepping his bounds and interfering with social norms. Anytime we see ourselves uncomfortable with the good Jesus wants to do we should seek renewal of our minds. When we are renewed Jesus is free to work.
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?"
In fact we all need the healing touch of Jesus constantly. We are more like the man with the withered hand than we care to admit. Our ability to accomplish the aims we attempt is hindered by the impurity of our inner lives. But Jesus wants to make us free. He doesn't want to wait for the sabbath to end. He wants freedom and renewal for each of us right this very moment.
"Stretch out your hand."
He did so and his hand was restored.
We must reach out to Jesus even with the parts of us that are imperfect and which embarrass us. Only if we come to him with all that we are can the healing he works in us be complete.
But let all who take refuge in you
be glad and exult forever.
Protect them, that you may be the joy
of those who love your name.
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