Sunday’s Gospel reflects on the woman who was crippled for 18 years. She had shuffled through life, head down, looking at people’s feet. Today we would probably call it osteoporosis, arthritis, or stenosis.
She is one of the most powerful pictures of faith in the New Testament. She attended Synagogue every Sabbath for those 18 years, and probably attended almost 1,000 services during that time. She has not been healed, yet she still believes in God.
She prays, but even when it seems like God isn’t going to answer, she remains faithful. She comes to services, in spite of the fact that no one would think a thing about her if she did not.
Many today allow the slightest bump in the road of life to derail them and cause them to want to throw in the towel. She persisted in her faith, even when life didn’t go her way, because she loved her God! She was committed to the Lord.
There may be times in our lives when we are bent out of shape. When we are out of sorts for no apparent reason, when we are angry at the world, when we lash out at family, co-workers and nothing seems okay.
Maybe we feel unloved or taken for granted. Sometime our needs are simply not being met and don’t even know what they are, but, we are emotionally crippled.
If you are feeling unloved or concerned about something, then maybe the problem is that you need to go to Jesus. Maybe you need him to unshackle you from the burdens that weigh you down and restore you to freedom and joy. Maybe you need to just STOP and just SIT there, reassessing the chaos and day–to-day disruptions in your life.
Re-prioritize your life; seriously look at what is really important in your life. What things get you bent out of shape; that when looked at five years from now, will seem silly and unnecessary. Think about all those things that tug at you on a daily basis, that are not important and let them go.
Let love back into your heart. Remember that Jesus taught us to love each other, as we would want to be loved. Let love drive out all the negativity in your heart, all those things that get in the way of your happiness. Nothing would make Jesus happier. Nothing would make you happier and the people around you.
