10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” 13 And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. 14 But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? 16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” 17 As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.
There is no greater gift than the gift of empowerment.
To reach out one's hand, lift up one's own voice, or raise up one's own back tall and straight. The bent down and broken stand up like pines and wave their branches in glory to God. The lame rise and walk and suddenly a hymn bursts forth from deep within their soul:
I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
God's gift is empowerment. God desire is for those in bondage to find freedom. God wants to release the captive inside of everyone of us.
And I see her standing. In the middle of the synagogue on the evening of the Sabbath. She's standing. She didn't know her own stature. Eighteen long years. She'd forgotten just how tall she was. She'd forgotten what it felt like to look a man in the eye.
I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Then there are the naysayers. "You're not ready." "The community is not ready." "Not now." "Not yet." "There are six days on which to be healed; come back tomorrow." "Why, after all this time, do you want your freedom now?" "Maybe we should study it a little more." "Wait."
But Jesus says there's been enough waiting. "Woman," he says, "you are freed. Walk where you want to go. Walk and talk. Walk and sing. And teach others to walk and to sing with you. Walk tall and proud. Walk real proud."
And all the people said, "Amen."
(In honor of Susan B. Anthony and all the other suffragettes who rose up to demand the right of women to go to the polls this week.)
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