Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time, Luke 13, 10-17

On the Sabbath, he was teaching in a synagogue. There was a woman there who had been crippled for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity,” and laid his hands on her. Immediately she straightened up and glorified God. (Luke 13:10-13)

The question arises: What prompted the crippled woman to dare to come to the synagogue to see Jesus? For eighteen long years, she had been paralyzed, deprived of seeing what was really happening around her. She had spent a lot of money on doctors and had hardly hoped anyone could help her…except for one person she had heard about, so she decided to go to the synagogue to listen to him. Jesus saw her and restored her dignity as a daughter of Abraham.

We too are often “overwhelmed” by problems, often insurmountable from a human perspective. We are literally “tied” by many fears and illnesses that we may not be able to shed for years. It is good to seek help from doctors, but it is even better to draw close to the one who wants to free us from all our ailments and problems. For Jesus, every person has immense value! He sacrificed himself on the cross for everyone without distinction. He loves us as we are! But he wants to help us become what the Heavenly Father wants us to be!

 Do I get close to Christ often? Do I long for his healing help? Do I want to “straighten up”, to rise from my sins?
¦ Lord Jesus, let me begin to “straighten up” today through the intervention of Your grace and love!