How Would You Have Felt If You Were There?

The Garden Tomb, Jerusalem

As we return to the synagogue in Luke 13 to hear Jesus teaching, it is easy for me to imagine my place here as a member of the congregation. It is easy to imagine, but doing so makes me feel distinctly UN-easy. 

Luke 13. 10-17

Jesus was teaching in one of the meeting places on the Sabbath. There was a woman present, so twisted and bent over with arthritis that she couldn’t even look up. She had been afflicted with this for eighteen years. When Jesus saw her, he called her over. “Woman, you’re free!” He laid hands on her and suddenly she was standing straight and tall, giving glory to God.

The meeting-place president, furious because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the congregation, “Six days have been defined as work days. Come on one of the six if you want to be healed, but not on the seventh, the Sabbath.”

But Jesus shot back, “You frauds! Each Sabbath every one of you regularly unties your cow or donkey from its stall, leads it out for water, and thinks nothing of it. So why isn’t it all right for me to untie this daughter of Abraham and lead her from the stall where Satan has had her tied these eighteen years?”

When he put it that way, his critics were left looking quite silly and red-faced. The congregation was delighted and cheered him on.

I'm listening carefully…watching everyone's reaction to everything that is said. Even as I rejoice for the woman who has been healed, the synagogue leader scolds her and us. I feel her shame and ours. Ouch. 

Now Jesus 'shoots back', "You frauds!".  I'm uncomfortable with his anger, at the challenge of authority and at the conflict around me.  People around me are delighted and cheering as Jesus' critics are embarrassed. 

It's all too much for me. I close my eyes and pray for peace. 

You might join me in reading this passage again before Sunday, asking yourself, "How would I have felt if I were there?"

I hope to see you on Sunday when we will celebrate Peace Sunday. 

We continue to pray for our sister Carmen and her family as they mourn the loss of their beloved father, husband, and brother-in-law, Patrick.