“This ‘Wait’ has almost always meant ‘Never.’”--MLK, Jr.

 

Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. [Mark 3:1–5]

Sin damages our relationship with God. But hardness of heart is even more damaging because it perpetuates the damage done by sin.  And the harder one’s heart, the more permanent the damage.

In the passage above, Jesus was angry with the Pharisees.  Oftentimes the passion of anger is sinful, resulting from impatience and a lack of charity.  But at other times, the passion of anger can be good when it’s motivated by love of others and hatred for their sin.  In this case, Jesus was grieved by the hardness of heart of the Pharisees, and that grief motivated His holy anger.  His “holy” anger didn’t cause irrational criticism; rather, it drove Jesus to cure this man in the presence of the Pharisees so that they would soften their hearts and believe in Jesus.  Sadly, it didn’t work.  The very next line of the Gospel says, “The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death” [Mark 3:6].

Hardness of heart should be greatly avoided.  The problem is that those who are hard of heart are usually not open to the fact that they are hard of heart.  They are obstinate and stubborn, and oftentimes self-righteous. Therefore, when people suffer from this spiritual ailment, it is difficult for them to change, especially when confronted.

I wonder if Jesus is telling us to always grasp the opportunity to do good, even if it comes across as unseemly or untimely.  I’m reminded of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham City Jail,” in which he tries to explain to the religious leaders who asked him to refrain from the direct action he was leading, why the work for civil rights could not wait: “This ‘Wait’ has almost always meant ‘Never.’”

There are many opportunities, both great and small, for us to do good and to save life.  There are many people of good faith, even if their faith is not ours, with whom we can work to achieve good and promote life.  And there is no need to wait.

My loving Lord, this day I open myself to an examination of my own heart and pray that You will help me to always be open to change when necessary. Help me, especially, to see any hardness I may have within my heart. Help me to overcome any obstinacy, stubbornness and self-righteousness. Give me the gift of humility, dear Lord, so that my heart can become more like Yours. Jesus, I trust in You.