Luke 13:10-17
Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman
Now he 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.
Lord, while we are still arguing the toss
about rights and wrongs
about privilege and entitlement
about form and decorum
you march in
and make a difference
While we’d rather sit around discussing
who’s in and who’s out
and what inclusion entails
you extend your arms
to welcome all
While we set up procedures and protocols
and routines and rotas
in order to serve
you get on
with transforming the muddle
Giving each a name
Welcoming all as family
Seeing and addressing need
despite what rules decree
You rewrite the rules
in favour of those who are unseen
those who are not heard
those who have become
simply part of the landscape
You rewrite the rules
in favour of inclusion
and compassion
and infinite possibility
You rewrite the rules
to include us
Children of Abraham
Seen and loved by you
Seen and freed
to stand up straight
and embrace
the abundant life
you set before us.
Thanks be to God.
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