To
help you understand the importance of the reading we just heard from Luke’s
Gospel, I’m going to do something unusual. I’m going to bend over.
Bibliography
As
you can see, this is not a very comfortable position for me. I could easily
stay bent over like this for a few minutes, but what if I had to stay bent over
like this all the time? What if I had to stay bent over like this day after day
and year after year? That would be quite a different story, wouldn't it? What
if I went to the store and I needed something from the top shelf? I can’t even
see the top shelf, much less reach the items on that shelf! I would have to
depend on someone to find and get the items I needed.
In
today's Bible reading, Jesus was teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath when
he saw a woman who was crippled. She had been bent over double for eighteen
years and was unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her
over to him, touched her and said, "Woman, you are healed!" Instantly
she could stand up straight. She was so happy that she began to praise God!
You
would think that everyone in the synagogue that day would be happy and join the
woman in praising God. Not so! The leader in charge of the synagogue was very
angry that Jesus had healed the woman on the Sabbath day. He told the crowd,
"There are six days of the week for working. Come on those days and be
healed, but not on the Sabbath."
Jesus
answered the leader of the synagogue, "You hypocrite! All of you work on
the Sabbath! Don't you untie your ox or your donkey and lead it out for water?
Doesn't this dear woman deserve to be healed, even on the Sabbath?" The
leader was shamed, but the other people were happy and rejoiced at all of the
wonderful things that Jesus did.
Jesus
knew that rules are important, but he knew that the needs of people are more
important. You and I need to learn that lesson as well. Whenever we see someone
in need, the most important thing is to help them, no matter when or where it
may be.
Father,
help us to follow the example that Jesus has set for us. Help us to place the
needs of others ahead of any rules we may have. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
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