I lost track of how long ago this happened, almost twenty years ago now, I woke up one morning and realized that I could not stand up straight. Each time I tried, I felt a searing pain in my abdominal area. I hadn’t made any lesson plans so I did not feel that I could call in sick. I decided to go into the shower and see if I felt any better but didn’t. I did not want to disturb JoAnn and continued my morning routine hoping and praying that whatever was going on would release.
When it didn’t, I figured I would see if I could walk to the car and sit to drive. I was able to do so as long as I did not sit all the way back. I drove to school figuring that I would get everything set up, put together some lesson plans, request a substitute, and get to the doctor. As I arrived, pulled into my parking spot, and then got out of the car, I attempted to stand and still could not. It was hard to walk because I was leaning so far forward to keep the pain in check. As I was getting things set up in my classroom, I walked in between the desks toward the back of the room, and, all of a sudden, the pain released. I felt in that moment as if it hadn’t even happened.
I don’t know what caused the pain, I haven’t experienced anything like that nor has it ever happened again. I was able to stand up straight, was grateful and thanked God that I was pain free, and able to teach that day.
What I experienced was only a few hours. The woman in today’s gospel account suffered with her condition of being “crippled by a spirit” for eighteen years. Then one day while listening to Jesus teach in the synagogue, he saw her, and said, “Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God (Luke 13:12-13). The woman didn’t even ask for a healing. He saw her spiritual oppression and set her free!
Jesus sees us this morning as well. I invite you to read the gospel account a few times, enter the scene yourself, and imagine encountering Jesus as this woman did. Allow Jesus to look at you and call, “You are set free of …” Fill in the blank. Receive his call and allow him to come close so that you too, may feel his hands on your head. For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. May you experience the consolation, freedom, healing, joy, rest, and love that Jesus would like to share with you today!
Photo: A moment of quiet, and invitation to go to breathe and rest with the Lord who made heaven and earth and invited me to experience this moment with him. Listen for Jesus’ invitation to put things aside and rest a moment or two with him.
