To Save Life

On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” And Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus. Luke 6:1-11

It hasn't even been a week and I realize I am a little home sick. I am so thrilled to be in Alaska and the people and clergy here are wonderful. But I surely don't have my bearings and my internal and external clocks are scrambled. I am so grateful to be here. Yet my body and soul are seeking to be knit back together, mended in new ways, and made whole in this new environment. Although seemingly inappropriate timing, I am aching for a healing, a binding together for body and soul.

Jesus is in trouble again with the religious authority. Responding to the need of the people, both his disciples and the broken folks he encounters on his way, he feeds and heals people, right where they are. God doesn't wait for the right time, right place or the perfect circumstances to bring healing and transformation. God responds to the need, not to our human rules and our human conventions. We are invited by God to ask for what we need where ever we might be, whatever the circumstances.

Today, I ask God to bind me together, body and soul, old home and new home, so that I might be strong for others and serve their needs. May we ask for what we need from God, where ever we find ourselves, so that we can bring God's love and healing to all our communities. May God make us bold, so that we are not bound by human convention, but set free to serve by God's love and healing.