In this week's gospel Jesus spots a woman who is bent over and unable to stand erect, and he heals her--in the synagogue, on the Sabbath, without her so much as hinting she was there for that reason.
The leader objects to this display (jealousy, perhaps?). And he points out, in true nit-picker fashion, that it was against the Sabbath codes to "work" on that holy day. What a crock! I bet Jesus could hardly contain a guffaw over that interpretation of scripture.
Yes, the Sabbath is for rest, but that freedom from toil is reflected in the woman's freedom from affliction enabled by Jesus' action. Then he uses a classic "lesser to greater" argument to teach them about the Sabbath--"on the Sabbath you loose your animals so they can drink, shouldn't this woman (a child of Abraham) be set free, also without delay? "Keeping the Sabbath holy" involves more than just meticulous resting. It permits--no demands--freedom. Freedom from illness, oppression, poverty, discrimination, addiction, and all the powers and principalities that oppose life. Sabbath laws should not prevent, but encourage such actions in God's name!
What are your Sabbath practices? Church of course, but what else do you do to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy? Eat brunch out? Read the Times? Do some yardwork?
Might you be on the lookout for someone to set free? Someone sick--maybe not to cure of disease, but ease the disease with a phone call or visit? Someone sad--maybe not to cheer them up, but to cry with them.
What part of you needs to be set free? Ask God to loose the bonds that hold you captive!
Dearest Lord Jesus, healer and friend--free us from that which holds us captive, so that we may love and serve you even more. Amen
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