Of all of the sins that plague us, pride may be one of the most common and among the worst. It is so easy – almost reflexive – to lash out against someone who criticizes us without bothering to consider whether the other person actually has a point.  It’s hard, so very hard, for us to admit that perhaps we are wrong, or that someone else’s idea is better than mine.  It’s harder yet when the other person is someone with whom I have a difficult personal relationship. 
  
Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time 
Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17 
Psalm 110:1, 2, 3, 4 
Mark 3:1-6 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2 And they watched him, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come here." 4 And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. 5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out, and immediately held counsel with the Hero'di-ans against him, how to destroy him. 
  
Meditation by Patrick Borchers 
This Gospel reading always catches me off guard, but perhaps it shouldn’t.  It’s easy to picture the scene.  Jesus enters the Temple to pray on the Sabbath and is confronted by the well-off, well-educated and powerful Pharisees.  Then Jesus sees the man with the withered hand and weighs the prescription against working on the Sabbath against curing the man.  Of course, Jesus chooses the higher good of healing the man and in so doing angers the Pharisees to the point that they begin to plot his death. 
On the one hand, the reading astonishes me.  I have a hard time imagining how human beings seeing such a wondrous sign could retreat behind technical rules and use that as a reason to condemn to death the man who was performing such a sign. 
  
But the more I think about it, the less it astonishes me.  Of all of the sins that plague us, pride may be one of the most common and among the worst.  I know I battle it constantly.  It is so easy – almost reflexive – to lash out against someone who criticizes us without bothering to consider whether the other person actually has a point.  It’s hard, so very hard, for me to admit that perhaps I was wrong, or that someone else’s idea is better than mine.  It’s harder yet when the other person is someone with whom I have a difficult personal relationship. 
  
Although an extreme illustration, the Pharisees’ actions were brought on by sinful pride.  They were exalted citizens of their time and then along came Jesus of humble origins to upstage and embarrass them.  Instead of thinking about the deeper significance of a man who could do such things, they see red because their pride is wounded.  It’s easy for us to do the same thing; to ignore the small signs and instead focus on how important we are.  It’s a common human mistake, but often a tragic one. 
  
  
Supplementary Reading 
Put Your Faith into Action 
  
“No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God” - (Romans 4:20, AMP) 
  
Scripture tells us that faith without works is dead. In other words, if the faith inside of us doesn’t get expression through our actions and words, it will no longer be alive. If we don’t use it, we will lose it, so to speak. We have to step out in faith in order to keep faith alive. 
  
Every person has been given a measure of faith by God. When we hear the truth of God’s Word, we receive more faith. That’s why it’s so important to put the Word of God inside of you because when you do, you are building your faith. To keep that faith alive and thriving, we have to put it to use. One way to put your faith into action is through praise and worship. Praise is a supernatural force that causes you to stand strong in faith even when your thoughts or circumstances are coming against the truth. Praise keeps your thoughts going in the right direction. It’s hard to be negative when you are declaring the goodness of God! 
  
Today, let praise make you stable and strong. Put that faith in your heart into action. Look for reasons to thank God. As you do, you’ll feel that inner strength and be empowered to move forward into victory all the days of your life. 
  
Heavenly Father, today I choose to bless Your name. I thank You for life. I thank You for breath. I thank You for provision, healing, strength and joy. Today I choose to put my faith in action by praising You all day long. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. - Joel & Victoria Osteen