Sorry that this sermon is a bit late being posted, but it has been worth the wait. Read it. The message is very powerful.
Love Not Tradition!
Luke 13:10-17
A few years ago, I remember sometimes seeing a man in the town, lying on a bed, which looked similar to a hospital trolley. It must have been motorized, because he would propel himself around the town centre on it. There seemed to be no one with him – he was all alone. I confess to my shame that my reaction was to draw back and keep at a distance.
As we go about our daily lives, most of us will come into contact with people who have some form of disability, whether it is physical, mental or emotional. Disabilities are more accepted these days, as people generally know and understand more about them and there are even acts of parliament to protect the rights of the disabled. But we do still reject and marginalize some people, for example drug addicts, alcoholics and those with severe mental illness. Perhaps this is partly because we are afraid and we don’t know how to deal with them.
At the time of Jesus, people thought differently, and those who were ill or suffering from a disability were considered either to have sinned or to be under the power of Satan and possessed by an evil spirit. These people were often rejected both by their families and by society. No one would go near them or speak to them. This may well have been the plight of the woman in our Gospel reading this morning.
Let us try and put ourselves in that woman’s shoes and think what it would be like to be in her condition, year after year, always bent double and unable to straighten up. What stress there would be on your body in this unnatural position – just try it for a few minutes sometime and see how your back aches! How easy it would be to fall over because your balance would be affected. How fed up you would get of only being able to look at your feet and the ground in front of you – your line of vision really limited, not able to see people’s faces properly, but having to tilt your head sideways. Not able to see a rainbow or a starry sky, not able to see the beauty of tall trees or birds in flight. How hard life would seem, and how limited you would be. And above all, how rejected you would feel, shunned by those around you, possibly even your family. What a life! I wonder how many times this lady had pleaded with God for healing and yet it had not happened – eighteen long years she had suffered with no relief. Yet she still came to the synagogue to worship God. What inner strength she must have had and what faith! I wonder how many of us would still be coming to church each Sunday if this had been our experience. But things were about to change for this woman because Jesus would come into her life.
Imagine the scene. It is the Sabbath, and Jesus and some of his disciples have arrived at the local synagogue. It is bustling and noisy, as people crowd in. Perhaps some have heard that Jesus will be there, and have come from the outlying villages, hoping to see and hear him, because his fame has spread far and wide. Their luck is in, because before long, Jesus sits down and begins to address the crowd. While he is busy teaching, the disabled woman suddenly appears, shuffling painfully into the synagogue. Jesus, instantly aware of her presence, pauses from his teaching, watches her for a few moments, and then calls her to him. The crowd falls silent, all eyes are in one direction – focused on Jesus. The people hold their breath and wait to see what is going to happen. They are puzzled at his interest in this ‘outcast from society’ – what can he possibly want with her? Surely no-one in their right mind would go near such a person, especially when she is obviously possessed by an evil spirit. But Jesus, as always, is filled with compassion at her suffering, he sees the person beyond the illness and knows full well that that person, however she may look, is very precious to God and that God loves her just as much as he loves every other person present in that synagogue.
Every good teacher knows that a practical demonstration of a teaching point is far better than a thousand words.
Jesus, uses this opportunity to demonstrate not only the compassion and love of God, but also the presence of his kingdom and his power in their midst. Laying his hands upon the woman he simply says ‘Woman, you are set free from your ailment.’
The expression on the woman’s face says it all – at first, complete and utter disbelief. ‘Surely this cannot be true! Me healed of this terrible illness that has blighted my life all these years.’ Gradually, she plucks up the courage to try and move and slowly stands up straight. It is as though a weight has been lifted from her back and the chains that have bound her have fallen away. Gasps of amazement ripple round the synagogue from the onlookers and applause breaks out. Her expression changes to one of astonishment and then tears of relief and joy pour down her face and she begins to praise God with all her heart and others join in. ‘Glory to God! Alleluia!’
But not everyone is happy. Some in the crowd are not rejoicing and the leader of the synagogue certainly shows his disapproval, because in his eyes, Jesus has broken the Sabbath law. Angrily, he says to the crowd, ‘Do not come to be healed on the Sabbath – there are six other days when you can receive healing.’ The crowd falls quiet and a few nod their heads in agreement. Then, the voice of Jesus rings out in reply, also quoting from the Jewish law. ‘People are allowed to release their animals and look after their needs on the Sabbath, so why not this woman? Surely this person who is God’s child and made in his image, has even more right to be released than any animal!’ Immediately, the crowd erupts again, and once more their voices are raised in praise. ‘Glory to God!’ and the opponents of Jesus are shamed into silence.
Let’s look at the way Jesus operates in this story and see what we can learn from him. Firstly, love and compassion are at the heart of it, just as love and compassion are in the very heart of God, and love and compassion should also be at the heart of everything we do.
Notice also that although he was engaged in the important task of teaching, he was not too busy to deal with this troubled woman. As soon as she appeared, he was aware of her and broke off from what he was doing, to respond to her needs. Are we alert and aware of the needs of those around us, and do we have time for them? We should always try to find time for someone and seize the opportunity to convey God’s love and concern.
Jesus then spoke to the woman and touched her, two simple actions which she may not have experienced for years. If we speak to someone, we acknowledge their worth; and if we touch them we are indicating that we accept them and offer our friendship. When Princess Diana visited those who were suffering from Aids, people were shockedthat she touched them and held their hands – but think how much this must have meant to those who were so used to being rejected. There are also reports of Mother Teresa, seeking out the filthy, diseased, dying of Calcutta, speaking to them gently and cradling them in her arms.
Finally, despite it being the Sabbath, Jesus still chose to heal this woman. He did not allow tradition or rules to obstruct God’s kingdom. God is interested in the person rather than the law. ‘TheSabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath, Jesus once said. The leader was so caught up with tradition and rules that he was blind to the real issues. Rules ruled him! Traditions can be good, but they must never take priority over loving God and helping others. Here in our churches, we have many traditions, so we need to ensure that they do not hinder God’s work. So let us pray that God will indeed show us his ways, teach us his paths and lead us in his truth.
Pauline Norris. Lay reader.
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