The good that underlies rules and the law

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 19: JANUARY 19, 2022]

Mark 3:1-6. Jesus heals during the sabbath

The good that underlies rules and the law

“Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?”

The legal and the ethical do not always go hand in hand. The example of Jesus shows that it is more important to do good than to blindly comply with the letter of the law.

Businesses and organizations have to operate within the constraints of internal policies and the law. The sad story is when managers find loopholes or technicalities to exploit for greed’s sake, when it can be for pursuing what is good.

For most of us, it is more comfortable to say “we complied with the rules” rather than “we risked breaking the rules for the greater good”. I fully understand this line of thinking. It is safe.

But if we are to be authentically virtuous as leaders, the challenge is to embrace the pursuit of insight and wisdom. It is more difficult. It is uncomfortable. But this may be the way to fully understand the Word.