Hezekiah's desperate plea for an extension on his life was not simply a fear of death. He was a reforming king who had just led Judah through a massive spiritual renewal and the life- threatening siege by the Assyrian army. His death at that critical moment would have been a national disaster, jeopardising the stability of the throne and the reforms he had instituted. Through Isaiah, God promised him the extension of life he needed to do all that. Because the promise of healing of the life-threatening ulcer was a reversal of a clear prophetic word of death, Hezekiah asked God for a sign to confirm it. God granted an unprecedented miracle by allowing the shadow on the sundial of Ahaz to move backwards ten steps. This demonstrated God's absolute sovereignty over the natural order and was a tangible anchor for the king's faith and resolution to bring about good and renewal for the people.

Jesus is the Master of the Sabbath. Religious rules are secondary compared to doing God's Will. What God wants is mercy and not sacrifice! Taking care of the vulnerable, serving the marginalised and the poor are more important than simply obeying the fast-rules of the obligations of religion. God is much larger than religion.

What can we gain from today's readings? Ultimately, it's obeying God and following God's Will. We have to surrender ourselves to the mighty work of God rather than depending on our own efforts in following rules and regulations.