The Gospel of Luke 13:10-17
Now Jesus 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.
Let us Pray:
Merciful Savior, You shattered the chains of tradition that kept mercy bound. You showed us that love fulfills the law. Forgive me when I cling to rules more than grace, when I judge rather than heal, when I silence praise instead of joining it. Make me bold in compassion, quick to see suffering, and eager to act in Your name. Amen.
When I was growing up in New England most towns had Blue Laws, these laws prevented certain activities on Sunday. Such as selling alcoholic beverages, grocery stores and the few shopping malls were closed. The laws were adopted originally for religious reasons, specifically to promote the observance of the Christian day of worship. Now most Blue Laws have gone by the wayside. Christians today tend to treat the matter of holy observance casually. For most Christians today, such observance involves, at best, an hour of public worship each week. Outside that hour, we feel free to engage in work, recreation, and shopping. So, as we look at today’s Gospel our blue laws than were not much different than what is talked about in Luke 13. Fortunately, church leaders at that time did not threaten people if they violated the Blue Laws. The only reason the church criticized Jesus was because they were afraid of Him and what He might do to their standing in the church.
The synagogue leader’s outrage reveals a distorted view of holiness, one that prioritizes ritual over mercy. Jesus exposes this by comparing the care given to animals with the neglect shown to suffering humans. For Jesus, healing a person is much more important than business activities or household chores which the people usually do on a Sabbath. The leader believes that it is acceptable on the Sabbath to free an animal that has been confined for a few hours but unacceptable to free a woman who has been bound for eighteen years. Jesus places human need above rigid religious observance. The Sabbath, meant for rest and restoration, becomes the perfect context for healing. And her commitment, that sad, bowed figure, with eyes fixed on the ground, and unable to look into His face, which yet had crawled to the synagogue, may teach us lessons of patience and of devout submission. She might have found good excuses for staying at home, but she, no doubt, found solace in worship; and she would not have so swiftly ‘glorified God’ for her cure, if she had not often sought Him in her infirmity. They who wait on Him often find more than they expect in His house. A good reminder for those who find excuses to not take the time to Worship.
Let us Pray: Father, for those who are afflicted and in various ways and for all those whom we know who require a blessing – be it physical, emotional, financial, or Spiritual Touch, O God all those who are bent over and oppressed by crippling spirits, and set free all those who are afflicted by attitudes and opinions and viewpoints that cause them and others to become bowed down and to suffer needlessly. Create in them the joy that is meant to be part of the Sabbath day – the day in which we have rest from our labors and celebrate the wholeness that comes from you. This we pray in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Reflections by Bob 