Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.”

Gospel Reading: Luke 13:10-17

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. 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. 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.” 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? This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?” When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus heals an infirmed woman on the Sabbath, a day when the Jews were to rest and honor God. When Jesus saw this woman with an infirmity, he called her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” This infirmity had bound this woman for eighteen years and prevented her from experiencing life. It says that Jesus laid his hands on her and “she at once stood up straight and glorified God.” So what was her infirmity? Was it physical or spiritual? Because of her crippling illness, was she not able to see God? It says that Satan had hold on her body. The good news is that Jesus was able to conquer Satan and free her from the bonds which crippled her. She was now able to stand straight and see God in all his glory. We too may be infected by Satan. He may have us bound and bent over unable to stand straight. It is through trust and belief in God that Christ can reach out, touch us and save us. Christ can wash away the evil in our lives, but only if we let him.

Sometimes the evil is cleverly disguised. The Jewish leaders were infuriated at Jesus for healing someone on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was a day of rest. One was not suppose to do any work on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was reserved for prayer. The Jewish leaders were so caught up in the rituals that they too were blinded from the true meaning of the Sabbath. The Sabbath was a day to honor and respect God for all he had done. It is also a day for us to purify and cleanse our souls. On this day, God speaks to us through the scriptures. The scriptures provide many healing powers. God heals 24/7 – he’s God, he can do that. God does not sleep nor does he take a break. He will do anything to unite with us. What better time to lose the chains that bind us then during Mass. This is the perfect time to cry out to God for grace and mercy. You are getting ready to receive Eucharist. You are getting ready to receive Christ into your body. Christ is getting ready to touch you with his hands to free you from your infirmity.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, have mercy on my soul.

Free me from the bondage which prevents my soul from seeing you.

Free my body from evil so that I may stand righteously to do your will

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon