Sermon 24th August 2025 – 11th Sunday after Pentecost
Text: Luke
13:10-17
Imagine
living 18 years bent over in suffering. That was the reality for the woman in
today’s Gospel. But what we learn is that she wasn’t just physically bent; she
was socially and spiritually weighed down. Jesus said - Satan bound for eighteen long years. And in
her culture, illness was often seen as punishment. Remember the question Jesus
was once asked about a man born blind? Who sinned that this man was born blind?
And not only that but as a WOMAN who was suffering she likely felt invisible,
judged, and forgotten. Much like the woman who had a bleeding condition for 12
years and had to sneak up behind Jesus to touch his cloak. But then—Jesus sees
her.
Luke
tells us Jesus was teaching in the synagogue. He wasn’t interrupted. The woman didn’t cry
out. She didn’t even ask for healing or think about creeping up behind Jesus.. But
Jesus *saw* her. “When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her,
‘Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.’” This is pure grace. Jesus doesn’t wait for her
to prove her worth or that she has faith to be healed or if she needs to cease
sinning first. He doesn’t ask her to explain her suffering. He simply acts. He
touches her and heals her. And she stands up straight—for the first time in
nearly two decades.
But not
everyone rejoices. The synagogue leader is furious. Not because healing is
wrong—but because it happened on the Sabbath. “There are six days for work. So
come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.” (v.14) Sabbath was seen
as work – Jesus saw it as love and compassion – grace. This is the voice of
religion without compassion. Rules without relationship. The leader sees a broken law; Jesus sees a
broken woman. Jesus responds with love against legalism. In fact he points out
the hypocrisy of their legalism: “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you untie
your ox or donkey on the Sabbath and lead it out to give it water? Then should
not this woman… be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” (vv.15–16)
Jesus
reinterprets the Sabbath—not as a day of restriction, but as a day of
restoration and reconciliation. And wasn’t that God’s intent on creating a
Sabbath Day rest? What better day to heal than the day meant for wholeness? We
may not be physically bent over, but many of us carry invisible burdens that we
bear: - Shame, anxiety, grief, guilt. Or perhaps it is a religious legalism
that tells us we’re not good enough Jesus sees those burdens. And He calls us
forward. He speaks freedom. He lays hands on us—through Word and Sacrament,
through community, through grace.
The
question is: will we let Him straighten us? The woman didn’t just stand up
physically. She stood up spiritually.
She
praised God. She became a living testimony to the compassion of Jesus Christ. And
the crowd rejoiced as perhaps they too have felt the release of legalism that
had kept them bent over. And this is our challenge. To see where legalism and
human constraints are keeping people feeling like they are weighed down with
burden. Let’s be a church that sees the bent and broken among us and says,
“Come forward. You are set free.” In much the same way that Jesus says – come
to me all you who are weary and burdened and find rest for your souls.
Notice
that Jesus didn’t need to accuse or point the finger at the Pharisees. No, his
act of compassion that did all the work. Much like St Paul says in Romans – Do
not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. If your enemy is hungry,
feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you
will heap burning coals on his head. By
Jesus’ act of compassion his opponents were humiliated and the people were
delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.
What a
profound act of compassion by Jesus. But why, for 18 years, had no one reached
out to her? In the crowds of our lives, how many people remain invisible to us?
Jesus’s compassion is unbelievable. He sees her. While everyone else may have rushed to find
their seats Jesus notices a woman in pain. Much like the man at Bethesda healing pool –
ignored by everyone rushing to be first in the water but seen by Jesus. Jesus
saw her not just as a sick individual but as a beloved daughter of Abraham.
When we
are bent low by the burdens of life, it can be easy to feel unseen. But Jesus
sees us. When we are suffering it is easy to feel as if we don’t have much
worth – like this woman – 18 years. Jesus teaches us that everyone has value
and worth in the eyes of God.
Each of
us is a beloved child created in His image. Our calling as the image of God –
as the body of Christ, is to reflect that same compassion especially to those
whom society has cast to one side. Who can we reach out to this week who feels
unseen—maybe a neighbor, a coworker, or a friend? Maybe someone we haven’t seen at church for a
while. Jesus calls us to see the forgotten.
Legalism
is a powerful and active force in the church which masquerades as
righteousness. The Synagogue ruler were the “righteous one” but represents the
resistance to change and the clinging to tradition even when human suffering is
present. It highlights a crucial aspect
of our faith: when tradition begins to overshadow compassion, we risk missing
the heart of God. Many in our churches today grapple with similar conflicts. Our Parish has some challenges in the coming
12 months – ageing buildings – ageing demographics – decline finances – the
need for new leadership. And when that happens we can become focused on
survival rather than mission and soon we find ourselves bent over.
We
cannot and must not forget our mission. Jesus reminds us that love and
compassion is how we can best do mission. When the woman is healed, she praises
God. Her joy becomes a powerful
testimony to those around her. What joy
are we reflecting? How often do we share God’s goodness with others rather than
hiding our light under a bowl? Do we
rejoice in answered prayers. The miracle is not just in the physical healing
but in the restoration of her dignity and identity and faith in God. Jesus called her forward, confronting her
isolation and reaffirming her place within the community of faith.
In a
world where many feel bent over and forgotten by life's pressures—burdened by
sin, sorrow, and struggles—our mission is to share the freeing power of the
Gospel. So as we leave today and venture back into our daily communities, let
us carry with us the heart of Jesus who sees, who heals, and who liberates. Let us be instruments of His healing,
extending our hands to lift others up who feel weighed down. Let’s create a
community where compassion is what we become known for rather than legalism and
tradition, where every voice is heard, and every life is valued. Let us not
overlook those who are suffering or cross to the other side. Let us not get caught up in our daily routines
where it becomes easy to ignore the cries of those who are bent over in pain. Let
us be a people who joyfully continue the work of Jesus, bringing freedom and
praise to those who need it most.
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