Luke 13:10-17 (NRSV)
Read Luke 13:10-17 on biblegateway.com
Verse 10Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. Verse 11And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. Verse 12When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment." Verse 13When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. Verse 14But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day." Verse 15But the Lord answered him and said, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? Verse 16And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?" Verse 17When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.
Devotion
Years ago, during a small-group retreat, the facilitator began with an activity called "I see you." He explained we would each take a turn, look directly at another, and, with the help of their nametag, say, "(Name), I see you," until each person had been seen. I confess, my initial reaction was a whole-body eye roll. I also confess the activity was disarmingly affirming and undeniably transformational. No longer individuals among strangers, we had been seen into a new community.
It all begins with seeing. Though not looking her in the eye, Jesus sees the woman bent over for eighteen years. He calls to her and proclaims that she is set free from her infirmity. He lays hands on her and she stands up straight and pours out words of praise.
In our small group, the transformation depended on mutual seeing. What happened that day in the synagogue did not depend on the woman's ability to see Jesus (how could she? — all she could see was the floor), but only on Jesus seeing the woman. It changed everything.
Prayer
Freeing God, thank you for coming near to us in Christ; seeing our ailments of mind, body, and spirit; and, with your love, setting us free for new life in you. Amen.