Daily Scriptures Reflection and Morning Prayer for Monday, October 28, 2013

Scripture: Lectionary 479. Oct 28th. Romans 8:12-17. Psalm 68:2.4.6-7.20-21. Luke 13:10-17.

“Our God is a God of salvation.” This is the theme for my reflection this morning. The word Salvation means both healing and redemption in the language that Paul used for writing his epistles (Koine or Common Greek). The Psalm is written in Hebrew where the word for salvation means a cry to God for help.

Paul is now in the midst of his more Spirit-filled chapter in Romans where he now confirms that we are helped in our prayer as we cry out to God. The concerns, sins, and troubles of the flesh are left aside as Paul now concentrates on the Holy Spirit within our lives. We remember the Psalm that gives rise to our confidence in the Spirit: “Send forth your spirit and we shall be created and you shall renew the face of the earth.” This is the prayer we all know as Come, Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit we cry out, Abba (Father), realizing that we all are children of God made in God’s image and likeness. The Spirit helps us, saves us, and heals us so that we can trust in who we really are in the depths of our being. We also are heirs of the kingdom of God, heirs of Christ, united with Him through our Baptism and immersion in his Paschal Mysteries of suffering, death, and resurrection. God is a God who listens to our cries and saves and heals us through the Spirit and through Jesus. We are blessed each day by the Lord. We are moved and led by the Spirit to praise and thank God for our life which now is in the Spirit.

Jesus’ name is associated with the word for salvation and healing. Today’s Gospel episode details Jesus healing touch that cures a woman who was badly bent over for eighteen years. Her faith has saved her. He does this on a Sabbath in a synagogue. Rules give way when it is a question of God’s mercy working through the Spirit to heal others no matter where or what day it is. All is sacred once the Spirit is present. This woman is more than a daughter of Abraham; she is a daughter of God and God’s child created in God’s likeness and God’s image. We stand up with her as she faces Jesus and looks in his face at eye level and then praises God who has done this wonderful thing for her. She now lives in the Spirit and is no longer shackled by Satan in her thin boned body. She represents each one of us as we rid ourselves of the bindings of Satan and sin. We now live life in the Spirit. Amen.