Prayer: Dear God, when it seems our struggles are lasting longer than we would like, may we keep going with hope. Amen
Reading: Luke 13: 10-17 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: So much of the attention of the story today is on the leaders of the synagogue disapproving of Jesus healing on the Sabbath, Jesus' response and the reaction of the people. How about today we think about the woman bent over for 18 years who could now stand straight? Eighteen years! That is a long time to deal with difficulty. Yet, where was she on the Sabbath? She was at the synagogue. Perhaps she went there every Sabbath hoping for a healing. However, it seems pretty clear by popular opiniion of the time that healing wouldn't or shouldn't happen on the Sabbath. Yet she was there anyway. Because it was the Sabbath. A day to worship no matter what the situation or circumstance. Yet, she just kept going to worship and perhaps that is what also kept her body going even bent over. I go to fitness classes at a Gold's Gym and in the classes there is always a range of strengths and abilities among the participants. One women though always caught my eye. Her movements seem to be a struggle. Sometime along the way I learned she has Parkinson's Disease. Yet, she just keeps going to fitness class and perhaps that effort will keep her body going longer even with Parkinson's. Our struggles may seem to last a long time and some may never go away. Just keep going with hope. -- Ruth Gates
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