Standing Tall

Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And 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. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment." When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.         Luke 13:10-13     

Farmers at Work                                                 Georges Seurat

On Sunday, we will encounter the passage of the woman who has been bent over for eighteen years. She comes to the synagogue to worship, encounters Jesus, and is healed. This is one of Jesus’ lesser known miracles, but a miracle nonetheless. 

How old were you eighteen years ago? Do the math. Imagine being in some sort of pain for that long. Pain that crushes you to the point of bending you in half. And while the woman's pain is of a physical nature, your pain may be psychological. Or spiritual. Pain we carry around with us (whatever the kind) will ultimately cause us to bend. Our pains weigh us down and less able to become what God dreams for us. 

What causes you to bend? What are you carrying with you that weighs you down? Guilt? Grief? Broken relationships? Lay these burdens at the foot of the cross and allow God to carry them for you. 

And stand tall.