April 7
Luke 13:10-17
Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman on the Sabbath
REFLECTION
The woman Jesus meets and heals has lived with her condition for 18 years. Her life would have been one of increasing pain with limited mobility. She would have been unable to perform many everyday tasks. Her viewpoint would have been restricted too. She may have been the object of jibes made by others, making her feel embarrassed and worthless. She would have very likely been excluded from having full participation in the community. Her life would have been extremely difficult. Disability at the time was seen as a sign of sinfulness and the idea of Satan binding her would have been a typical understanding. She was seen by the church authorities as less than human, not worthy of compassion on the Sabbath. Jesus calls them out on their hypocrisy. Jesus freed the woman from that which bound her and by his words and action attempted to free the authorities from what bound them. She was not the one bound by Satan, the authorities were.
Our understanding of disability has changed considerably but people still experience discrimination today. To see someone as less than human, a lesser being than yourself has been displayed throughout history. Our actions speak of how we see people. We see today campaigns’ for Black Lives Matter, Refugees, Modern Slavery, LGBT+, Gender rights and Disability Awareness. Discrimination is sadly alive and kicking.
Like Jesus we need to call out those who treat others as less than human. By our actions we show up the hypocrisy of those in positions of authority. It is an imperative that we do so. We cannot call ourselves Children of God and followers of Jesus if we sit by and do nothing. Sadly it is present within many faith communities too. We need to work with those who are discriminated against, finding out how we can make things better rather than assuming we know and speak on their behalf. This perpetuates the view of “less than”.
QUESTIONS
- Where have you come across hypocritical behaviour?
- Where have you witnessed “rules” coming before compassion for others?
- What has stopped you living a full life?
