Luke 14:1-6

One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.  There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body.  Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?”  But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way.
Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?”  And they had nothing to say.

A pleasant night out a good meal in sparkling company perhaps that is what Jesus looked forward to that evening. But when he saw a man afflicted with leprosy he went to work pausing only to prove his point, that the wellbeing of people takes precedence over petty rules no matter how well intended.
Jesus always did and always will put people first.  He sees the human being, not the leprosy or any other condition old or new. The hymn says ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’; a friend we can rely on in times of need as well as times of plenty.
He knows us and will never forsake us – no matter what some people might say.

Prayer
Lord God our loving Father in Heaven who we are bold to also call friend, be with us we pray in these difficult times.  May we feel your warmth in our souls as together we face whatever trials the World and life may throw at us, for we know with you, we will overcome.
In your Mercy hear our prayer.
Amen