Jesus was teaching in a synagogue
on the Sabbath day when he saw a woman who had been crippled for eighteen years,
bent over and unable to straighten herself up. Jesus said, “Woman,
you are freed from your infirmity.” He laid his hands on her, and
immediately she stood up straight, and praised God.
The ruler of the synagogue,
being indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the multitude,
“There are six days in which men ought to work. Therefore come on those days
and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day!”
Jesus answered him, “You
hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you free your ox or your donkey from the stall on
the Sabbath, and lead your animal to water? Shouldn’t this woman, a daughter
of Abraham bound by Satan eighteen long years, be freed from her bondage on the
Sabbath day?”
As he said these things, his adversaries
were disappointed, but the crowd rejoiced for the glorious things that were
done by him.
He went on his way through cities
and villages, teaching, and traveling on to Jerusalem. One follower said
to him, “Lord, are there only a few who are saved?”
He said, “Strive to enter by
the narrow door, for many will seek to enter and be unable. When the
master has shut the door, and you stand outside and knock, saying, ‘Master,
open to us!’ he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ You
will say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our
streets.’ He will say, ‘I don’t know where you come from. Depart from me,
you workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth,
when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the prophets in God’s kingdom, and you
are thrown outside. People will come from everywhere and will sit down to
feast in God’s kingdom. Some who are last will be first, and some who are
first will be last.”
Reflection
These are harsh words of
Jesus aimed at those whose lives are lacking in love and compassion, but who
feel entitled to be part of God’s kingdom. How has your faith made you a more
loving person? In what situations do you find it most difficult to show love
and compassion?
Prayer: Keep me from trying
to shut people out of your kingdom, Lord, and being shut out myself in the
process.
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