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: So many anecdotal stories I could share!
Spoke with a retired deacon yesterday and his good shame. In this life he will not hear praise for his kindness, instead given shame, a good shame, but hard to see. It was good to catch up with him after so many years.
If only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
The old woman suffered 18 years. She shared her suffering with Christ. Jesus healed her.
And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.
The old woman suffered the derision with Christ in the rejection of mercy on the Sabbath by the leadership. Ask yourself this question. Did her life get socially easier by becoming the wedge between the leadership and Jesus?
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.”
Shame on Jesus.
Shame on the old woman.
This is a good shame then!
Consciousness of the shame of hypocrisy for there is no shame in mercy.
Do you know what the word indignant means?
Dictionary: feeling, characterized by, or expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base.
Which did the leader suffer from?
- Base? No, the act was not profane.
- Unjust? I doubt he was that mindless to think so.
- Offensive? How does this offend? Closer, he is the leader, after all, setting the rules of the worship space.
- Insulting? This is the answer, pride. Jesus can do what he cannot. It is true. He knows the contradiction within himself. He measures Jesus’ intent against his own pride and position. Yet he continues against his own best interests as person and as leader.
The leader placed his authority at a higher value than the mercy. The act of mercy insults his limitations and offends his interpretation of the sabbath prohibitions.
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?
Children are aided by their Father.
Children imitate their Father.
But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But whoever is made to suffer as a Christian should not be ashamed but glorify God because of the name (1 Ptr 4:13-14, 16).
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.
Responsorial
Our God is the God of salvation.
Blessed day by day be the Lord,
who bears our burdens; God, who is our salvation.
God is a saving God for us;
the LORD, my Lord, controls the passageways of death.
Gospel Acclamation
Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth.
Gospel
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.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Nice Post 💯