The Gospel for November 3, 2004 (Richard Hooker)
Luke 13:10-17
One Sabbath day he was teaching in one of the synagogues, and there before him was a woman who for eighteen years had been possessed by a spirit that crippled her; she was bent double and quite unable to stand upright. When Jesus saw her he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are freed from your disability,’ and he laid his hands on her. And at once she straightened up, and she glorified God. But the president of the synagogue was indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, and he addressed all those present saying, ‘There are six days when work is to be done. Come and be healed on one of those days and not on the Sabbath.’ But the Lord answered him and said, ‘Hypocrites! Is there one of you who does not untie his ox or his donkey from the manger on the Sabbath and take it out for watering? And this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has held bound these eighteen years—was it not right to untie this bond on the Sabbath day?’ When he said this, all his adversaries were covered with confusion, and all the people were overjoyed at all the wonders he worked. -- The New Jerusalem Bible. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1995, c1985
A Study
Today's Forward Day by Day meditator talks about "SMRs" (Self-Righteous Moralists), people that I lump in with the Saturday Night Live "Church Lady." The meditator goes on, "They have their mouths set in a disapproving straight line and continually remind us of 'the rules.'"
There was always an easy laugh or guffaw whenever Church Lady was involved, because her come-uppance was generally hilarious.
Here, there is no humor.
"Why can't you wait," the synagogue leader demands of the crowd, "until a regular workday for your healings?" It seems that this poor woman had been waiting 18 years' worth of workdays for her healing, with no result.
Jesus reminds the leaders that even they will untie their livestock and take them to water on the Sabbath. How then, will they justify not untying this diseased woman for even another minute?
A Reflection
This is Jesus' last synagogue appearance in this gospel. If this is a historical account, this may have been the last straw for these religious elite. No more Galileean rabble-rousers making me look bad in MY synagogue. No sir! We'll take care of him. As my pal Jim Filer says, "Church is God's obstacle course...."
This entire section of this gospel (in which this reading exists) depicts Jesus carefully spelling out, in large letters writ bold, YHWH's plan for the salvation of His people, Israel; and it shows with equal clarity the leaders of Israel -- from Temple through synagogue -- ignoring the plan, cursing YHWH with words directed at their sisters and brothers -- and at Jesus.
With the example of the non-productive fig tree, from yesterday's lectionary reading, Jesus offers us yet another chance, yet another choice. We can bear fruit in response to the immeasurable grace heaped on us, or, like Israel, we can curse the gardener through our stubborn natures -- and await the pruning.
Remember earlier, when Jesus told the story of the neighbor who shamelessly knocked on his friend's door at three in the morning? Jesus doesn't make us wait for any day -- Sabbath or workday -- to work his healing in us by opening the door when we knock in our shame-filled but shameless way. When we ask, the Holy Spirit will fill every nook, every unfilled place with grace beyond our dreams. Jesus is standing there, by the doorpost. Can we knock?
The Collect
O God of truth and peace, who raised up your servant Richard Hooker in a day of bitter controversy to defend with sound reasoning and great charity the catholic and reformed religion: Grant that we may maintain that middle way, not as a compromise for the sake of peace, but as a comprehension for the sake of truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
5:56:37 PM 
|
|
