Set Free

Proper 16, Sunday August 25th, 2019

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.

Today is my parent's 77 wedding anniversary. They did not live to celebrate it on earth, but I'm sure they're celebrating. They were all about celebrating life, living faithfully and bringing healing and joy where they could. They both dedicated their lives to God, and crossed all sorts of barriers and lines, color, religious, social and economic, for the common good. They were always loving but never really political. They just took the command of loving their neighbor seriously. This is my true inheritance from them both. The gift of living for God and for community, always serving and willing to love others beyond measures, despite the challenges that life threw at them.

Jesus healed a women on the Sabbath day and was criticized for it. It wasn't proper or following the rules, but it was an act of love. Loving one's neighbor, bringing them joy, healing and relief is always proper and always in season. We are reminded by God that conformity is not compassion. If we are to truly love God and our neighbor, we will have to color outside the lines, reach beyond our comfort zones, and expect criticism for the life we lead.

Today, I ask God to give me the courage and will to serve as my parents have served, and to love as they have taught me. May we be courageous in our loving, sidestepping our own comfort for the love of others.

Collect

Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.