Scripture: Psalm 71:1-6; Luke 13:10-17

It had been almost two decades since she had been able to stand up straight; to look someone in the eye; to see the sunrise or to feel its warm upon her face.  While 18 years is a long time to be bent over, the truth is she had been suffering from this disease since the day she was born.  Oh, it wasn’t obvious at first.  But the older she got, the more misshapen she became.  By the time she was an adolescent it was obvious that something was terribly wrong.  Living in a culture where diseases and disabilities were looked upon as a curse from God, one can only imagine the ridicule and insults this poor woman had endured.  Her family, no doubt, was ashamed of her.  Children made fun of her.  People within the community avoided her while the religious officials condemned her. 

After spending the majority of her life either being ignored or analyzed, could it be that she actually saw her current state as a blessing?  Grant it, her entire world had been reduced to the dirt around her feet.  Oh, she could still hear the tone of peoples voices when they talked to her or, more likely, about her.  But at least she didn’t have to put up with their disgusted looks or pretend she didn’t notice when they were trying to avoid her. 

All things considered, being bent over was not the worst thing that ever happened to her!  It is what others did to her that hurt the worst.  Do you know how hard it would have been to spend almost your entire life being shunned and left alone?  It was like she was drowning in a sea of loneliness and no one cared enough to notice.

That is what made the Sabbath so difficult.  While other women looked forward to the one day a week when they could actually rest and enjoy the company of other women, she always arrived at the synagogue knowing that, at least for her, it was not a comforting place to be.  It was there that she seemed to receive the harshest treatment.  It was there that the religious officials turned her into an object lesson of what happens when one’s own sins, or the sins of one’s family, are so great that even God turns against you. 

Being shunned by humans is one thing.  But imagine being told over and over again that God doesn’t accept you!  What hope would you have?  What reason would you find to even get up and live through another day?  If even God doesn’t want you what’s the point of even trying?

Yes, what happened to the bent over woman was tragic.  She not only endured the pain of her illness, she was also forced to suffer at the very hands of those who should have understood – who should have been willing to love and accept her.  But they were the very ones who became angry at Jesus when dared to heal her.  They said it was because he did it on the Sabbath.  But, there were other healings on other days and the officials were just as angry as they were that day.

So, why did the religious world react so violently when Jesus acted out of love and compassion?  Why didn’t they rejoice that God had just scored a great victory?  Why weren’t they over come with joy when someone who only moments before was beaten down now stood before the entire world singing God’s praises and rejoicing in their salvation?

Well, they weren’t happy because they were the ones who interpreted the rules.    They were the ones who had the most to gain by maintaining strict control over the synagogue and the most to lose if too many outsiders were empowered by God.  So, the moment Jesus called to the woman their power and authority were threatened. 

Christians, think about it.  Was the woman the only one Jesus wanted to heal that day?  What about the scribes, the Pharisees, and all those religiously correct folk who were more pre-occupied with the laws than with building the kingdom?  

What about us?  I am convinced that Christ is calling each and every one of us to stand before him and to feel his healing touch.  He is offering to  free us from whatever it is that is holding us back.  Maybe we are the ones who are suffering from a physical or spiritual disability.  Or, could it be it is our desire to control that keeps us from responding to the call?  Yes, there are so many things that hold us back – things like fear, pride, anger, age, addictions, gender, race, disappointment, grief and tragedies. 

But, friends, it doesn’t have to be this way.  We can leave this sanctuary today with a renewed sense of commitment and the freedom that we long for.  The woman’s life was changed forever because she responded to the call.  She stood before the Lord and allowed his gaze to fall upon her.  It is my prayer that each one of us will have the courage . . . the faith . . . to do the same.  In that moment we, like the bent over woman, will find our lives filled with his glory and our mouths with his praise.  It is then we will stand with the Psalmist and proclaim:

            In you, O LORD, we will take our refuge . . .

            In your righteousness you will rescue us . . .

            For you are our rock and our fortress . . .

           You ,O Lord, are our hope, our trust,

           Our praise is continually of you. (Paraphrase of Psalm 71:1-6)

To God be the Glory.  Amen.