Feb 28 - "Do The Right Thing"

Mark 2:23 - 3:6
"Again He entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched Him to see if He would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, 'Come forward.'. Then He said to them, 'Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?'. But they went silent. He looked around at them with anger; He was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.'. He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against Him, how to destroy Him."
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We are faced with difficult choices every day.

In the course of our lives, throughout every week, we make decisions about whether to do what we know is right, or to die a little death and succumb to that which is wrong.

I find myself on a regular basis, not faced with major decisions between right and wrong (should I return the wallet that guy just dropped or keep it for myself?), but with ones of much less dramatic impact. There can be situations where I know something can be changed for the better by stepping up and making my opinion known, but I keep silent because I fear the consequences. Many times, the simplest choice of doing a little good can make a big difference.

Why do we struggle with this? Even though we know something is right, we are fearful at times of upsetting the proverbial apple cart.

Throughout the Gospel of Mark, we have been watching the wonderful miracles of Jesus in the world. His actions and works have turned the lives of the Pharisees upside down. For Jesus, up to this point, doing the "right thing" has been without material consequence. However, we can see what is to come. The verse at the end of this reading is a terrible foreshadowing of what will happen when a group of people have decided to do the wrong thing. It is a bit scary.

Fortunately, we know how the story ends, though. We know about the triumphant resurrection. But, there is certainly some pain to come before good ultimately wins.

So, do the the right thing. You know what it is. Although this choice may, at the least, make for an uncomfortable situation, or at the worst, put some part of your life in peril, you have to do what you know to be right and good. Pray for guidance to know what is right. Pray for support and protection from harm once you take action. But when your prayers are answered, move forward. For we know that when we do what is right and good, helpful and not harmful, we are standing beside Christ and He is beside us.