Today’s Gospel:  Luke 13:10-17

REFLECTION
The Jewish laws relating to work on the sabbath day were both confusing and ridiculous, but in today’s Gospel the statement made by the President of the Synagogue was even more stupid. Had the people taken his advice and returned to the synagogue the following day, they would have gone away again as impotent as when they arrived. Probably some of those people had been there on many occasions but the rulers of the synagogue had been unable to meet their need. This time, Christ was there and His presence was sufficient to make any day God’s day. The Lord, strong and resolute, turned to face the man. Christ was no weakling; His face would be set in manly determination as He said, “Hypocrite.” To address the synagogue dignitary in this manner required courage, but the Son of Man was never afraid to denounce evil. He never shirked responsibility nor turned aside from the path of duty. He believed in His mission; He believed in goodness. This was no time for a tactful approach to a difficult complaining person; this was not an occasion to exhibit care for one who was mentally ill; this was a time to denounce hypocrisy, and Jesus did that. The idea of keeping the poor woman mentioned in the Gospel in her pain for another 24 hours was obnoxious. Had she not suffered enough already - every day for 18 years? There is every reason to believe that Jesus’ eyes were hard, his finger was pointing straight at the heart of the hypocrite, when He faced the ruler of that synagogue. If it were right to help animals on the sabbath could it be wrong to assist one of God’s children? Maybe the word “hypocrite” was spoken in a whisper, but we may be sure it was heard in every part of the synagogue.

Here is a problem, for even Christ admitted that Satan had bound the woman for 18 years. If she were a daughter of Abraham, why should Satan be allowed to spoil her life? Do we have here evidence of the permissive will of God? The problem of suffering has long disturbed the thoughts of the church, and sometimes it has been hard to harmonize the intense agony of a trusting soul with the delayed delivering powers of a loving Father. Millions of people have asked, Why? And the simple answer is that no one knows - if we knew everything, faith would be unnecessary. Had this woman committed some sin? Had Satan been able to take possession of her? Had her deep faith in God commenced at some later date; had her soul been healed whereas her body remained crippled? Had the woman known great remorse even when she worshipped because she remembered that her condition might have been avoided if she had believed earlier in life? We do not know. It is sufficient that she carried her burden with fortitude.  While she could not repair the past; she was determined to build the future, and with this thought in mind came to the sanctuary. Such faith and hope can never go unnoticed. Jesus called her to him, and the rest we know.

Today’s Reading:  Eph 4:32 - 5:8

PRAYER
Lord, in my time of trials and distress, help my faith in you to remain steadfast.  In Jesus’ Name we pray.  Amen.