Monday 7 September 2026 - Stretch out your hand

0:00Today is Monday the 7th of September, the martyrdom of Blessed Ralph Corby S.J. in the 23rd week of ordinary time. Leslie Jordan with the Portus Gate, sings, Have you found the Lord? As you enter into prayer, reflect on all the surprising places God has been found in your life recently. The kindness of a friend, in nature, the seemingly ordinary moment.

1:30Have you found the Lord? Is He in the wind? Yes, yes, yes He's in the wind. Have you found the Lord? Is He in the storm? Yes, yes, yes He's in the storm. Christ is in 10,000 places and prison high in law. Where could I, where could I, where could I go? Have you found the Lord? Is He in your tears? Yes, yes, yes He's in my tears. Oh, when He found the Lord, as He patient friend.

2:37Yes, yes, yes He is my friend. Christ is in 10,000 places and prison high in law. Where could I, where could I, where could I go? Is Christ in 10,000 places and prison high in law? Where could I, where could I, where could I go? Oh, where could I, where could I, where could I go? Have you found the Lord? Today's reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

3:39On another Sabbath, Jesus entered the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the Sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. Even though he knew what they were thinking, he said to the man who had the withered hand. Come and stand here. He got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to destroy it? And after looking around at all of them, he said to them, stretch out your hand. And he did so and his hand was restored, but they were filled with fury and discussed with one

4:45another what they might do to Jesus. Jesus heals in full view of people who are watching only so as to catch him out, and he does not let their hostility hold him back. He puts the question that exposes what is really at stake, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to destroy it? He places kindness above any rule that might get in kindness's way. Is there a rule, a habit or an expectation in your own life that sometimes gets in the way of

5:49you're doing good?

6:50The man is told simply, stretch out your hand. He has to act in trust before he can know whether healing will follow. Grace so often asks something of us first, some small movement towards it before we feel its effect. Is there a withered part of you? Some capacity you've stopped trusting that Jesus might be inviting you to stretch out today?

8:16As you hear the reading once more, notice what draws your attention this time. What do you feel as you watch this small quiet act of courage and compassion? On another Sabbath, Jesus entered the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the Sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. Even though he knew what they were thinking, he said to the man who had the withered hand, come and stand here. He got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath?

9:23To save life or to destroy it? And after looking around at all of them, he said to them, stretch out your hand. He did so, and his hand was restored, but they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus. The leader's response to healing is fury rather than joy. Good news that should delight them instead threatens the control they cling to.

10:26Is there a corner of your own heart that resists good news? Because it asks you to let go of control. Take this to God now, as honestly as you can.

12:18Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Word of the Father.