Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: October 27, 2025

Date: Monday of the 30^th Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text:  Luke 13:10-17

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, "Woman, you are set free of your infirmity." He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, "There are six days when work should be done.  Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day." The Lord said to him in reply, "Hypocrites!  Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering? This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?" When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

Today’s gospel recounts Jesus’ healing of woman on the sabbath and the criticism of the local religious leader for curing on the Sabbath. Jesus rebukes the leader by showing His compassion for the woman who had suffered for 18 years and contrasting that with the leader’s rigid and legalistic priorities.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

In the scheme of things, do I realize that the law of love trumps all other laws?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, You are love itself and with love You created us and call us into loving relationships with You and with one another. For love of us, You sent your only-begotten Son to take on our human nature in all ways except sin. For love of You and love of us, He selflessly gave His life upon the cross of Calvary for our salvation. Send your Spirit to stir within us and strengthen our resolve to be the loving children You created us to be. Grant that we may live our love for You, for Christ, and for one another daily. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.