Woman, You Are Set Free From Your Ailment!

What/ how we think, eat or do, can get us sick. I prefer to prevent it. Sad to know that we can contribute to it. I am afraid this was not a choice for the lady in our Gospel today. Her condition that could be best described partly as Osteoporosis, Arthritis or Scoliosis which cause sideways curvature of the spine through spinal instability, vertebral collapse, or joint degeneration. The Bible describes this condition differently from our modern view. It says it was a spirit that had caused it! Not what your typical doctor is likely to say. Now this ancient understanding may sound odd to us, but verse 16 actually emphasizes that it was a bondage to Satan (Spir. Lense.) Jesus came to give us abundant life. He healed/freed her from such Satanic bondage. Jesus saw her pain, bearing this unclean spirit for 18 years! So, being ‘bent over’ is like when carrying burdens so heavy that we can’t stand upright in our inner life. Be in her shoes! You see the ground, no eye contact, no social cues, you miss out on everything, hence social stigma. The heart of the matter is, sometimes it can feel as if our souls are bent. We have seen it: Too traumatized to advocate for yourself, or too overwhelmed with issues to believe a cure is possible, because perhaps too bent, to look up to God for a cure. Paul’s letter to the Hebrews brightens our prospects when describing this unshakable Kingdom of God in which true healing is possible. This Kingdom is here already. Will we finally figure it out? Some are still looking for this Kingdom! She was there to listen to God’s word, perhaps to relieve her inner suffering but she got more. Jesus saw her & called her and laid his hands on her. The spirit of infirmity was no match for Jesus. Restored! I realize that this grief and fear that has cast down our souls makes God sad. Like a mother hearing the cries of her baby, God wants to unburden us of it all. You would think it would be celebration for all, but no. It was a problem for the leader of the Synagogue. They saw a doctor’s work on Sabbath. They couldn’t see beyond that, the compassion of God manifesting in front of their eyes. To Christ, Salvation was a priority, it means shalom, the wellness of one’s soul. That’s why here at St Andrew’s we don’t turn anyone away; we help as much as we can. Kingdom Life! Often enough like this leader, when we barricade ourselves in our own way of life, we miss the most important part: Love God and your neighbor as yourself. It means, I am wishing my neighbor the best that Salvation in Christ has to offer: Wellness in all areas of life: Body, mind and soul. Don’t let the busy parts of your life distract you. Pick your priority and stick to it! If we align ourselves with the priorities of God’s Kingdom, our lives will surely take the same turn towards Kingdom purpose. The prophet Isaiah said it well: [If you feed the hungry and help the afflicted, and honor God’s Sabbath, the Lord will guide you, strengthen you, rebuild you and restore you!] What a promise! The word of faith from Jesus matters more than we would ever know! He simply said: “Woman, you are set free from your ailment!” Daughter, welcome into the Kingdom of God! You are also forgiven everything you have ever done! Wow! Yes, it’s wowser! What ailments/illnesses/habits that have bent you out of shape? Originally, we were never created with such stuff in mind. We were created in God’s image. We were loved with an eternal love even before we were born. Why wouldn’t God want to heal us on the Sabbath, and restore us to our original perfect state of creation? We learn in Genesis that God delighted in his creation. But life did a number on us: Spirits of infirmity, or even the stuff that happened to us in life? we grew up and lived in toxic environments. Some amongst us didn’t survive it, but the Kingdom of God still stands… It is full of peace, full of forgiveness, kindness and compassion above any laws or lifestyles. God’s Kingdom and purpose become our foremost priority. We radiate of God’s love and strength to others. We reek of God’s scent! Our minds are powerful! We attract what we picture inside of us! Picture the manifestation of God’s Kingdom in our midst! Seek out this Kingdom and be part of it as best as you can! Amen.