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Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, West Valley City, UT
The Rev'd W. Lee Shaw
She came in late to the synagogue, standing in the back on the women's side, stooped over, head bowed. Quiet. Ashamed. She came to be close to community, the community that has neglected her because Satan had "bound her for 18 years" in illness. This was a time when illness was seen as a result of sin, either the person's or their parent's sin. Given her silence I doubt if she knew who was teaching that day, the young rabbi from Nazareth. She came to be on the edge, the margin, the fringe of a community she used to know and who used to accept her.
Jesus is teaching, concentrating, telling stories but cannot take his eyes off her; standing apart, stooped over in pain. Alone. Ignored. Tolerated. Jesus stops his teaching. He calls her to him. I imagine the chagrin on her face, such a private person. The synagogue is quiet. She haltingly comes to him and he announces, "You are set free from your ailment." She stands upright, no longer stooped over, no longer in pain. She smiles and then praises God as does the congregation they have seen a healing, an unasked for miracle. (I imagine some in the congregation are thinking, this young rabbi is living up to his reputation.)
Ah, but then begins the harangue. The leader laments that it is the Sabbath and work should not be done on the Sabbath. This is unworthy of the Sabbath. She is unworthy to have been healed. Shame on Jesus for even recognizing her. Shame. Shame for even acknowledging someone on the fringe, the margins. We are good righteous, God fearing people here!
Jesus continues his teaching, but now with the leader, in rather sharp tones; a teaching about caring for all, even animals and those on the fringes on the Sabbath. The people hear and know what they are hearing is right and true. And soon the "entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing."
Actually, this was less a healing, as it was a cure. She was cured, made whole of her separation from her community. When Jesus called her a "daughter of Abraham" he welcomed her back into her community. She is one with those around her. They cannot exclude her; she is a daughter of Abraham as they are children of Abraham. She is linked to them. She has been brought back into community.
She did not ask for a miracle. She did not come for a miracle. Jesus saw her and saw a need for her to be brought back to community in wholeness and health. I marvel at what I see as the surprise and joy on her face.
There are many voices in our society today that say you do not belong, you are not worthy, you should not be here or do this. You know the voices: If they are Latino and poor, they are probably here illegally. Get rid of them. Gays and lesbians are not deserving of the same rights of others in marriage or other civil contracts. Keep them in their place. Clearly Moslems should not build a community center/mosque on private property in Lower Manhattan because extremists killed 3,000 people 9 years ago, never mind that Moslem American citizens were also killed in the towers on 9-11. Moslem extremists have killed more Moslems than they have Christians or anyone else. Note that Christians have killed more Christians than others as well. A sad commentary on religion.
You know the voices: You do not belong here. You are not worthy. You are not part of us.
These are not bumper sticker issues. These are complex social issues that demand the care and sensitivity of conversation around the lives of real human beings. We cannot continue to push the façade of public policy fed by ignorance and fear based on the sound bites of bigotry.
In Jeremiah we hear God say, 'Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you...." Fear not.
In Hebrews we hear how God will shake the foundations of heaven and earth to remind us of what is unshakable: God's love and mercy for the children of God. "...we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken." Fear not.
These are hard and distressing times in our nation, in our church and in the world, so I will be so presumptuous as to quote the angels and the prophets: "fear not." We have vowed to work for justice and peace for all people and respect the dignity of every human being. That means, specifically those on the margins, those stooped over in fear and loss and stigma. Fear not. After all, we are all sons and daughters of Abraham: Jewish, Christian and Moslem.
Jesus did not preach gentle, happy good news. Jesus preached hard good news: love your neighbor as your self: even the Moslem, even the Latino, even the gay/lesbian. Do not betray them to a culture of fear and bigotry which comes too often from ignorance and sheer political maneuvering.
Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.