“Set Free…”

Many thanks to Heike Domke-Talbot, who was ready, willing and able to host our outdoor service at her home last week. Though the forecast was reasonable, Sunday morning dawned dark, windy and cold – not a comfortable atmosphere for an outdoor service -- so the outdoor service was cancelled, and church and an indoor picnic were held at Tobermory United. Many thanks to all who contributed to a wonderful potluck picnic!

This week, we are back in the church as usual. For the summer, we’ve been making our way through the Ordinary Time scripture selections in the Gospel of Luke. This week we’ll see what happens when Jesus heals a woman on the Sabbath. He gets into trouble, of course, but It’s worth it, because this woman, who has been crippled over for eighteen years, unable to stand up straight, suddenly can stand again. It’s an image of freedom, becoming unbound, and sure enough, Jesus follows the healing of this woman with a story of the kingdom of God being like a mustard seed that is planted and grows strong, strong enough to serve as a perching place for birds… The story begs an exploration of what is binding and crippling us – especially women – in these complicated times.

To prepare, read Luke 13:10-19 and ponder the following:

1.      Jesus is contravening a religious law of his time when he heals on the Sabbath. Can you think of a similar situation in our time? Something that is ultimately good but not allowed?

2.      What do you think it was like for the woman who had been crippled to suddenly be able to stand straight?

Image: “Tree of Hope,” Julie Leuthold, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.