Sermon

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost 29TH August 2010 Theme: God has called us to be free Luke 13:10-17 Possible Focus It is not God�s will that human who was created n His own likeness should be a slave to any forces of the world be they kings or emperors, rulers or principalities, authorities or powers. In our meditation today God call us to be free from all types of bondage and God knows if there was unfettered freedom, there would be every possibility that it could lead to downfall of human and separation from God. Context This world is never of suffering. The causes of sufferings are numerous. Very many of them are created by person himself/herself; inadequate nutrition for millions while million of quintals of grain and pulses rot in godown; dangerous infectious diseases communicated by human and other beings, greed of human accounting these causes, ignorance and superstitions of people, lack of or inadequate and timely health care. We can name so many other reasons and above all the work of Satan. Background The law prescribed that the seventh day of the week be kept holy by rest from all works and by religious worship. It was in remembrance of what we read Genesis 2:3, �God blessed the seventh day and made it holy. Because on that day He has rested after all his work of creating.� Jewish religious leaders added many laws around the above law. These were often burdensome, which the religious leaders themselves found difficult to follow. Healing was held to be the work of doctor-a professional work that had to be avoided as per their religious instruction. The leaders of the synagogue failed to perceive the work of God in the action of Jesus and needed only the letter of law made by man. Perhaps his disposition towards Jesus was also not proper. Key Verses Vs. 12 �This woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had held bound for these eighteen years-, was it not right to untie the bonds on the Sabbath?� Jesus places the person before the ritual. Sermon Direction 1. Jesus performed several cures on the Sabbath day .he did them in the sight of all � in most cases in the synagogue or in the presence of the Jewish religious teachers. Mathew. 1. 21-28 Man possessed by an unclean spirit was freed at the synagogue at Capernaum. Mk. 1:29-31. Cure of Simon�s mother-in-law. Jn. 5:1-18. Cure at the pool of bethzada to those who questioned Him, Jesus stated �My father goes on working, so do I.� Gn. 2:1-2, �on the seventh day God completed the work he had been doing. He rested on the seventh day after al the work he had been doing.� Besides his work as the preserver and judge continues. Mt. 8: 1-6. Man with the withered hand. �is it against the law on the Sabath day to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to kill.� Lk. 14:1-6. In the house of leading Pharisee, Jesus cured a man with dropsy Jn. 9:1-16. Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents for him to have been blind?� Jesus replied them: �Neither he nor his parents sinned. He was born a blind so that the works of God may be displayed in him.� Lk. 6:5. Jesus declared �The son of Man is Lord even over Sabbath.� Jesus wanted the religious leaders to look beyond their rules to the purpose of God�s law. The laws were meant to bring the people closer to God. The laws were meant to show God�s concern for his people and not to oppress them, not to creat in them sin-complex. 2. God did not free man from labor and sufferings. Gen. 3:18 �With suffering shall you get your food from it every day of your life.� Sickness, accidents, death etc were not only because of sin and definitely they were not judgment on sinners. Ch. 13 of the Gospel of Luke starts with some people informing Jesus about the murder of the Galileans while they offered sacrifice in the temple and the callops of the tower of Siloam killing 18 men that were working for the Romas. Both these incidents are narrated only in the Luke. No reference anywhere else to these incidents. Jesus was not interested in the historicity of these incidents. Jesus knew that the Jewish Zealot held those to be punishments for the sins of those men. Even working for the Romans was considered to be sin by them. Jesus replied those who gave that information. Lk 13:5, �Do you suppose those were guilty than all other people living in Jerusalem. They were not, I tell you. No but unless you repent you will all perish as they did�. Perhaps an early prophesies of the destruction of Jerusalem. 3. Jesus noticed the woman�s intense desire to be cured of her illness. She must have often prayed God to free her from that humiliating infirmity. It is true that Satan can bring suffering in individuals. Satan is the prime cause of all evils and sufferings in the world. In this case the woman was victim of Satan. By freeing the woman Jesus could proclaim the messianic time, and also reward the faith and prayers of the woman. 4. We may consider the reaction of the leader of the synagogue perhaps he was one among the religious leaders of the time who felt threatened by Jesus� preaching. He failed to perceive the intent of the Law. He failed to see the power of God working in Jesus. The miracle was evidently the work of God working in Jesus. The miracle was evidently the work of God for the miracle ended the dominion of the devil over the woman. The synagogue ruler failed to see the hand of God in the miracle. But so only the physician�s work. His blindness was intentional and a sign of his animosity against Jesus, and his readiness to find fault with others. 5. Today�s Gospel narration is an invitation to us to introspect. Are we so removed from what is Godly that we fail to perceive the work of God in us and in our neighbor? Are we in the habit of judging others and ascribing motivates to their actions while we ourselves may be transgressors more often. We should also consider whether we have that faith and trust in God that we also receive God�s blessing as did that woman? We are admittedly followers of Jesus, and know what God wants of us as Jesus� followers? Do we at times deserve reprove from Jesus because our attitude, behavior and response is similar to that of the Jewish religious rules? Prayer Loving God weave often been blind to your working in others and even in ourselves. We have been ready to condemn others and failed in your commandment of love. Cleans our heat and thought so that we be more like Jesus your son, who lives ad reigns with you and the Holy spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.