Daily Gospel Reflection for October 26, 2015

Today's Gospel: Luke 13:10-17

As in yesterday’s gospel passage, today we witness a miracle. Luke tells us of a poor woman, who had suffered a crippling debilitation for eighteen years. Jesus was in the synagogue teaching and noted this woman. He called her over and with only a few words, healed her, releasing her from all of her pain and suffering.

Rather than rejoicing at this miracle, the leader of the synagogue took Jesus to task when he was questioned about healing this poor woman on the Sabbath. In his answer to the synagogue leader, Jesus taught those present about the nature of his mission and God’s love.

Sometimes, in social media circles online, I wince at the conversations that happen between “believers.” We can become so caught up in our positions on tenets and Church politics that we lose sight of the mercy that Jesus modeled for us. Like the synagogue leader, we become hypocrites who preach something with our words and live something very different with our deeds.

Today, let us remember the lesson learned by those who witnessed the miracle of this crippled woman. Let us rejoice fully in recognition of the splendid deeds done in our own lives every day by our loving God. Let us never fall prey to the temptation to be hypocritical in our walk as Christians.

Ponder:

Are you ever a hypocrite, so blinded by rules and regulations that you forget to act in Christ’s mercy?

Pray:

Jesus, in your power you had mercy upon the crippled woman in the synagogue and healed her of her afflictions. Help me today to pause and to see the needs of those around me who are hurting or in need of loving compassion. May I be your hands and feet to them today and always.

We thank our friends at The Word Among Us for providing our gospel reflection team with copies of Abide In My Word 2015: Mass Readings at Your Fingertips. To pray the daily gospels with this wonderful resource, visit The Word Among Us.

Copyright 2015 Lisa Hendey