Romans 9:1-5 / Luke 14:1-6
One of the distracting things that can happen when we are at work is when someone comes in unexpectedly with a request or the phone rings and the person at the other end of the line has a difficult issue to discuss.
Whenever such things happen, our thoughts and ideas and concentration on our work gets thrown off and we may have to start all over again when we get back at it.
To us, it may just be another person with a request or another call to attend to.
But whatever it is, the person has a need or a request, and that need may be urgent or important to that person.
That person will certainly feel disappointed or frustrated if he were told to come back another day or to make an appointment first.
In the gospel, the man with dropsy may be having it for a long time.
But the fact that he was standing in front of Jesus meant that he was hoping that Jesus could do something for him.
Jesus was going for a meal but He didn't put the man on hold or tell him to come another day.
For Him, that man could be cured immediately and He would do it.
We have our own work and it may be urgent and important.
But let us also remember those occasions when we needed help immediately and we actually got it.
We have to realize that it was God who sent us the help, and so we too must help others in their need when they come to us.