August 22nd - Reflection

Time after Pentecost - Lectionary 21
Luke 13:10-17 (NRSV)
Jesus heals on the sabbath

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
Rejoice at all the wonderful things God has done and is doing. Rejoice and give praise to God. On the sabbath, God has brought life to this world. On the sabbath, Jesus lay dead, but look! He is alive and brings forth a new creation. Jesus brings forth a new creation of life and follows with healing.

Look! The Spirit comes to us and grants us strength to live and gifts to give, day after day. This life and this body on earth is being recreated and made new, even as this earth and this body age and die, we can look forward in the hope and strength to a life in Christ. And this new life begins now! Even as our earthly life fades away, we are living new life in Christ.

Rejoice at all the wonderful things God has done and is doing! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Create in me a clean heart and a new way through you. --- Amen