Stretch Out Your Hand

One sabbath while Jesus was going through the cornfields, his disciples plucked some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them. But some of the Pharisees said, ‘Why are you doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?’ Jesus answered, ‘Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and gave some to his companions?’ Then he said to them, ‘The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.’ On another sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. Even though he knew what they were thinking, he said to the man who had the withered hand, ‘Come and stand here.’ He got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, ‘I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?’ After looking around at all of them, he said to him, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ 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

Loving Creator author of our wholeness

you want to end hunger and sickness

you offer healing with each new dawn

and turn the earth to face brother sun.

We build prisons and fill them full

we hide away the broken and abused

we run from the stranger and neighbor

and wonder why we feel so bound.

Yet you sought out the damaged

you healed the sick and fed the hungry

you still seek the hurting ones today

and stretch out your heart in healing.

Let us be those who reach through bars

who help to feed and house everyone

make us your healing hands in our time

so your freedom and love ring out now. Amen.