Romans 8 : 12-17
Luke 13 : 10-17
The act of generosity and compassion is indeed a noble act.
But it is also an act which demands sacrifice, a sort of self-giving.
And it may also entail some risks, in that the act may not be appreciated, or it may be misunderstood.
When Jesus healed the woman who was bent double for 18 years, it was an act of compassion and a sign of the generosity of God's love.
That act was greatly appreciated by the woman who gave glory to God, and the people were overjoyed at the wonder that Jesus worked.
But His adversaries, on the other hand, criticized Him for breaking the Law, or the so-called Law.
Yet Jesus did not stop showing compassion or love just because of these criticisms.
Maybe we ourselves have experienced criticisms and ingratitude, and these may have weighed us down and bent us into indifference and apprehension.
But we are reminded in the 1st reading that what we have is not the spirit of slaves that bring fear into our lives.
What we have received is the Spirit that makes us children of God and with the Spirit, we bear witness to God's love in spite and despite the criticisms and the ingratitude or even the hostile reactions.
In doing so, we share in the sufferings of Christ, and when we share in the sufferings of Christ, we will also share in His glory.