Luke 13:10-17
10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 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. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” 13 When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. 14 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.” 1
5 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? 16 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?” 17 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.
Dignity vis-à-vis Indignation
How marvelous it is to see how much humans are more precious to God than human regulations and restrictions.
"Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8, one of the Ten Commandments). It is a day of remembrance of God's graces, thanksgiving, meditation, spiritual growth, rest for the body and the soul, and a deeper opportunity for family connections. Sabbath is a day of spiritual revelation, reflection and inspiration. The Church kept all of these values when it replaced the Saturday Sabbath with Sunday in celebration of the Lord's Resurrection.
This Sunday's Gospel invites us to reflect on a few points of great spiritual significance.
Jesus joins community prayers as a faithful believer.
Jesus pays attention to those in need. He sees, touches and heals.
He considers man more deserving of attention and care than the prohibitions of the Sabbath. "The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath" Mark 2:27.
He knows that His teaching, miracles and signs may cause indignation with the official authorities but He seeks pleasing the Heavenly Father more than the judgements of humans.
Today’s Gospel shows us that praying with the community contributes to spiritual growth and to the rest of both the body and soul. Caring for others includes their souls and their bodies as Jesus does.
We are invited to consider the quality of our participation as Church members. Be united in prayer and depart regular worship with a spiritual energy, both as individuals and as a community, to be a living witness for Jesus' presence among us today.
We are called to pay attention to the needs of others and to how we can contribute to their rest or their healing. We are invited to do as the Lord does by giving more attention to human dignity than to all kinds of restrictions.
Let us pray to see with Jesus' eyes and be touched by His consideration of human dignity. Be inspired by the Holy Spirit to help wherever our action is needed for God's glory and following Jesus' steps.
May we stand straight in our faith and help others to stand as well!