Reading: Luke 13: 10-17
Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are set free from your ailment.’ When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, ‘There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.’ But the Lord answered him and said, ‘You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?’ When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing. Reflection: Jesus was clearly out of line. There he was in the synagogue on the sabbath - the day each week set aside to honor God by doing no work or business. A bent and crippled woman showed up, who had been suffering for 18 years. Jesus surely knew better, but he touched her and healed her anyway. The leader of the synagogue was indignant. In many ways, the leader was right. The rules and customs of their community made it clear that the Sabbath was a day to be free of work. But Jesus didn't back down. He pointed out that everyone did the work necessary to care for their animals on the Sabbath. This woman, a child of God, ought to receive the same. Responding with care and compassion to the needs of others also honors God. The leader of the synagogue had missed an important point. He had gotten caught up in the details and intricacies of following the Sabbath rules and had actually missed the larger point of honoring God by caring for another in need. Perhaps he believed that the woman's ailment was some kind of punishment from God. But Jesus makes it clear that God is the source of healing, and not pain. It is usually easier to simply follow rules than to live with compassion. It is certainly easier to judge people than to care for them. Jesus invites us all to notice the needs around us and care for them, to discover ways to reach beyond boundaries and rules, and bring healing and wholeness to our world. Jesus broke the rules, not for the sake of rebellion, but to heal and transform lives. To reconnect people to the God who loves us all. To help us move from judgement to compassion. To make it clear that God's priorities are different than ours. –Alicia Anderson Prayer Help us to align our priorities to yours, O Lord. Amen.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Authors
Anyone is welcome to contribute! If you'd like to write for us, please e-mail [email protected] Email
Get our daily devotions delivered to your e-mail box each day by signing up below:
Archives
May 2022
Subscribe |