There are times when we may use a certain commandment or teaching of the church just as an excuse for not performing certain tasks. For example -- you were hosting a Sunday dinner for your family and friends, your mom spending many hours making sure everything is ready and when she asked you after dinner to help her and wash the dishes, you say -- I can’t do it, it is Sunday, and we should not work on Sunday. Or another example: once I was living with a priest who would not hear someone’s confession when he or she asked for it, but simply would tell them to come back when confessions was scheduled. Or when they called from the hospital asking for the anointing of the sick, he would tell them that the other parish is ‘on call’ that day. Just like those Pharisees who kept accusing Jesus for helping others and healing them on the holy day of Sabbath. “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?” We not only should, but we are obligated to, help others when they need our help, and never look for any excuses.
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