Sunday, August 24, 2025
Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment." When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day." But the Lord answered him and said, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?" When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing. Luke 13:10-17
Jesus healed a woman on the sabbath, and the religious leadership was furious with him. He called them hypocrites and shame them which contributed to his death. There were religious laws concerning the sabbath which they felt needed to be upheld, while Jesus saw the woman, her pain and her struggles, and healed her. Her suffering, whatever the cause was, was gone, and she was so grateful, having been set free. I get this lady, as in the past, I have been stuck in a wheelchair, had to use crutches for years, and still use a cane on occasion. People don't see the bent over, wheelchaired, handicapped ones. They push by as if there was no one there. Yet, Jesus saw the woman and called her to him. Jesus sees our suffering and calls us to him. He sets us free. May we draw near in our pain and bring love to those who suffer today.
A Litany for Sunday, August 24th, 2025
Gracious Creator, you made us wonderfully
we are formed of stardust and your breath
sent into the world to love and be loved.
Gracious Savior, set us free, and let love flourish again.
We are often bound by the chains of suffering
pain, fear and anger choke out our lives
yet we forget to turn to you in our deepest pain.
Gracious Savior, set us free, and let love flourish again.
You see the burdens and pains we bear
you are with us in the weary and sad times
and you see us in the times when we run from you.
Gracious Savior, set us free, and let love flourish again.
We all need you to heal and renew us today
we need to be set free from our tremendous burdens.
Gracious Savior, set us free, and let love flourish again.
We are afraid that the world is turning so cruel
and we feel so helpless, bound by so many demons.
Gracious Savior, set us free, and let love flourish again.
You, dear Lord, see us when we are bound in pain
and will set us free to carry your love to the world.
Gracious Savior, set us free, and let love flourish again. Amen.
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