Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound -- think of it -- for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?

 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.  And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.  But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity."  And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.  But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, "There are six days on which men ought to work;  therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day."  The Lord then answered him and said, "Hypocrite!  Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?  So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound -- think of it -- for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?"  And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for the glorious things that were done by Him.

- Luke 13:10-17

Yesterday we read that were present at that season some who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.  And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?  I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.  Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?  I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."  He also spoke this parable:  "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.  Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none.  Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?'  But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.  And if it bears fruit, well.  But if not, after that you can cut it down.'"

 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.  And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.  But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity."  And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.  But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, "There are six days on which men ought to work;  therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day."   The scribes and Pharisees had built up certain traditions around the Law.  According to these traditions, healing was considered work, and therefore wasn't permissible on the Sabbath.   It was their "mission," so to speak by zealously keeping these peripheral traditions.  But for Christ, and for the real heart of this story, that kind of legalism made them insensitive to the mercy of God.

The Lord then answered him and said, "Hypocrite!  Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?  So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound -- think of it -- for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?"  And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for the glorious things that were done by Him.  Under the law, one could give food or water to an animal on the Sabbath, necessary for its health.  But the traditions of the Pharisees prohibited healing on the Sabbath.  Jesus gives a command here, "Think of it."  Church Fathers see this command as directing us to a spiritual meaning for eighteen years.  In the Greek, the expression is literally translated as "ten and eight years."  St. Ambrose and Theophylact see ten as representing the ten commandments, while eight represents grace, as the day of Resurrection is often called the "eighth day."  Therefore, says my study bible, humanity is lifted up by faith in Christ, who fulfills both law and grace.

We may think about this woman, bent over for eighteen years.  I have known a woman with a spinal condition that rendered her so.  She was one of the loveliest and most devout, even radiant persons I have known, a caring mother and grandmother, and loved in her community.  What we might find notable about this woman is that the minute she is able to be straightened up -- think of it, we will say in imitation of Christ -- she uses her upright condition to glorify God.  She is finally in that straightened state in which one can lift up one's eyes and hands in praise.  In some way, the text is telling us this is her true natural state, a state of the proper goodness of life, and that it is to this state that Christ has come to return us all.  It is affliction, a spirit of infirmity, that keeps us from this good true nature as created by God.   Jesus also says that she was one whom Satan has bound, meaning that she was held captive against her will, and so now has been liberated.   The word used here for made straight is, in the Greek, ἀνορθόω (pronouned "anortho").  This word is made from two root words put together:  ανα ("ana") which means again, and ὀρθός ("orthos") which means straight or upright, and can also mean by derivation "correct" or "true."  "Orthos" is the root for "orthodox" - meaning "proper worship" or "right faith."  (It's also a word connected to the health of the spine or skeleton, as one sees an orthopedist for such problems.)   All of this is to say that her restoration is to her correct or true place, and her good health -- her now once again upright position -- is linked, as she knows, to her praise of God, her "right praise."  Looking closely at the words here, we don't lose a sense of the wholistic nature of healing by Christ, the true picture of human beings as created by and in right relationship to God.  Our Creator's mercy, made tangible in this story, is the essence of all that is right and correct, of relationship and of restoration of our true good health and the fullness of what we are.  We will often find that healing stories contain this message -- and particularly so when it comes to women and the restoration of their places, whether in a household, or the community, or here in the synagogue praising God.  Let us be aware then of the Gospel message of what the fullness of our health really means, and how it is inseparable from spirit and soul and "right worship" of Creator.  God's mercy is that which circulates life through the fullness of our existence:   sustaining relationship, true health, the power of restoration to our right places.  What we are and what we may be are all contained in this place of God's love; and that is the correct way of worship and praise.  It is God's mercy that fully liberates and sets us free.