Woman, you are set free

Greetings on this the Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Rom 8:12-17; PS 68:2 and 4, 6-7ab, 20-21; Lk 13:10-17
Notes: I think it is important to remember that the stories in the gospel where the powerful and the elite find fault (after fault, after fault) with Jesus are stories for us to enter into today.

The basic question is: When does our religion become oppressive of itself?

Jesus addresses this question directly.
We should too.

1. Is it Sabbath LAW or Sabbath PEACE that matters more?
2. Is it a PERSON or a BEAST of Burden that matter more?

Make no mistake it is our constant struggle to know the right thing to do and to do it always.
But then again, what purpose does faith have anyway than the wellbeing of ourselves and of others?

First reading
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God,
and if children, then heirs,
heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,
if only we suffer with him
so that we may also be glorified with him.

Note: We are to suffer (effort, attention, resources) not MAKE others suffer or ignore others in suffering.

Responsorial Psalm
Our God is the God of salvation.

Alleluia Verse
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.

Gospel Portion
The gospel story is set in a faith service where Jesus was teaching.
Jesus continues to teach with ACTION in the case of healing the woman bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.

Lesson ONE: We need to attend to the needs of others however inconvenient.

Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.”
He laid his hands on her,
and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.

Lesson TWO: We should glorify God always but especially when he brings relief in such circumstance.

There are six days when work should be done.
Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.

Lesson THREE: Healing is a Seven Day a week, 24 Hour a Day, work of the Church.

Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering?

Lesson FOUR: We know helpless animals need our care and we do not hesitate to do so. How then can we be cold to the needs of a human. Is a old woman less than an Ox or Ass? Far be it from us to think this way.

When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated.

Lesson FIVE: Our sense of SELF-dignity and SELF-respect are pinched by truth. The truth is we often do not recognize the OTHER-dignity and OTHER-respect. The question becomes what will be the cahnge? Do we double down on the error? Or do we make the necessary changes?

The whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

Lesson SIX: We should rejoice in the work of the Lord. We are to follow his example.

There are many, many modern examples of this crisis of faith.

We are well served to:

1. Suffer with Christ, by alleviating the suffering of others, by our own person, resources.
2. Praise God.
3. Make healing the priority 7 days a week (this is very difficult).
4. See humans as important as beast of burden (crazy talk, but instructive).
5. See OTHER dignity and OTHER respect as more important than our own exaggeration of religion (the point of the story).
6. Rejoice in His aid.

See the woman, save the child. In all its meanings.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry