Pentecost +13 Sunday – C4

Pentecost +13 Sunday – C4

Years C
Luke13:10-17

We are crippled by all manner of events. Eighteen years is a long time. Was it the length of reign of Tiberius to that date, as some of suggested? Political decisions can bend us over. Military occupation can bend us over. Was it some relational issue that had bent her over? A spouse, a divorce, a death, a child, and/or a friend can bend us over. Was it physical? Disease and disability can bend us over. Was it spiritual? Satanic? Testing?

Regardless of what the form of bent-overness might be, this woman, already demonstrating the same faith as Abram and Sarai, can be recognized as their "daughter." She occupied her promised land, a synagogue.

It is this recognition that sets Jesus apart from the others present. Who among us can see G*D's child in another, particularly another who is bent over? Can such contain G*D? While hypocrites usually put on masks to fool other about themselves, here hypocrites put masks on others so they don't have to deal with them. A mask here is the mask of Sabbath.

= = = = = = =

want to set the folks rejoicing
Mr. Religious Leader
tear down this mask
dividing people

we are after healing of nations
pray for Rwanda and Iraq
America, Israel, and Iran
this is a day for unbinding

in such a day
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Thursday, Friday, Saturday
or Sunday is a Sabbath

and since a Sabbath can be any day
it can also be every day
seven Sabbaths every week
is very good

creation is underway
that work is over and done
new non-work is needed
to hallow every hollow

we are like a sinkhole
our ground of being
has sunk until
we are bent over

reach out and touch someone
ground them in your steadfastness
loved and patted into new shape
standing and striding forth

our hollow places filled in
our mutual ministry
beyond our isolation
creates new Sabbaths