Contemplative Bible Reading

Luke 13:10-14 (New International Version)

10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. 14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

Sometimes we find an excuse when we don’t like someone. Something bothers us about the other person, and it isn’t nice to say “I don’t like them.” So, we find a reason – the other person is doing something wrong. To add to that, the other person is doing something wrong per religion.

I think this is what the ruler of the synagogue is doing. He doesn’t like Jesus, so he finds a reason not to like Jesus. Aha, the Sabbath. Well, Jesus was doing something sort of wrong that violated some traditions, maybe they weren’t the strongest traditions, but close enough to make an accusation.

After all, Jesus had the audacity to infinitely improve the quality of this woman’s life. And he did it on the 7th day of the week. Sort of silly. Sort of like we still do today.

God, help me to love my fellow man. Keep me from finding excuses to dislike people – especially keep me from pulling You into my petty feuds.