Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: October 30, 2023

Date in the Ordine: Monday of the 30th 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:

The gospel text for today recounts one of Jesus’ many healing miracles on the Sabbath. In this particular incident, Jesus cured a crippled woman. Jesus was moved by compassion for the woman. We know this because Jesus called her to himself for healing; she did not approach Jesus. We are reminded of the LORD’s loving compassion for us and the LORD’s desire that we be free. When the synagogue official was incensed by Jesus’ act on the Sabbath and scolded the faithful in attendance, Jesus used an analogy to put everything in perspective. While the law of the LORD is good; it is there to remind us to be loving people. To love well is never in violation of the law.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I at times get caught up in what I think is acceptable rather than insisting on do what I know is right?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, Beloved Son, Most Holy Trinity, always and everywhere your power and presence punctuate our lives and our world. Your desire for our freedom lies at the heart of our free will and behind your rescue of the Israelites from Egypt and their exodus, led by Moses. Grant that we may be people of great love for You and for all your people. May we be willing to suffer with one another as well as work to free one another when possible. May our love for You and for one another be our guide always. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.