Reflection for Monday 30th Week in Ordinary Time

By


Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore

Today's WORD of GOD

Luke 13: 12 -13

When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.”  Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

Today's Reflection

Putting Healing 1st

Seeing Badly Stooped Older People, Their Backs Curved from Constant Manual Labour, is a Sadly Common Sight in Developing Countries.

JESUS Saw One such Woman while Teaching in a Synagogue One Sabbath Day. HE knew that Tradition Forbade Any Work to be Done on the Sabbath, but HE was Instinctually Drawn to Help & to Heal, Whenever HIS Help was Needed, Whether on a Workday or on the Sabbath. In the Law, the Reason for Not Working on the Sabbath was to Imitate the Creator.

After the Work of Creation was Complete, GOD “Rested on the Sabbath Day” (Exodus 20: 11). On This Particular Sabbath, the Creative, Healing Force Within JESUS would Not let HIM Rest until This Ailing Woman was Restored to what She was Meant to be.

On a More Doctrinal Level, Paul Affirms the Mysterious Presence of GOD'S SPIRIT Within Humankind.

The HOLY SPIRIT Reveals to Our Human Spirit that We are Children of GOD. Later He is even More Pointed, “The Whole Created World Eagerly Awaits the Revelation of the Children of GOD.” The Cure of the Stopped Woman was One Small Step in the Direction of This Restored Humanity. Such an Act of Healing Renews Our Faith that GOD is Still at Work in Us, to Fulfil Our Stature as Children of GOD. The Faith of Our Crippled or Handicapped Neighbours can Deepen Our Own Trust in the Healing Power of GOD.

Life-Enhancing Activity

A Synagogue Official Sternly Insists that No Work should be Done on the Sabbath. In Reply JESUS Says that GOD'S Work can be Done on Any Day of the Week. He was Doing GOD'S Work by Releasing a Woman from an Arthritic Condition. By Easing Her Rheumatic Pains, HE Set Her Free to Live a Fuller Life.

Each of Us who Follow JESUS are Invited to Share in HIS Work of Releasing Our Neighbours from Pain & Distress. All of Us Share in the LORD'S Life-Giving, Liberating Work.

In HIS Healing Ministry, JESUS was Not Seeking Fame or Praise for HIMSELF. We are Told that the Cure of the Woman led Her to Praise GOD. “Immediately She Stood Up Straight & Began Praising GOD.”

When We Take Our Part in the LORD'S Work, It is Not for Our Own Glory but so that GOD Be Praised.

Good Morning

GOD Bless Us All

Have a great day and moments of God's presence during the week ahead.