'Twisted and bent over' (Luke 13: 10 -17)

Last week at connecT we spent some time with the 'bent over woman'
(Lk 13: 10 - 17). Someone who was in need of healing, but spent 18 years waiting for it. It is funny that no one really noticed her all that much, but Jesus did; straight away. What the Synagogue leader did notice, though, was that Jesus healed on the Sabbath. A fact that displeased the leader of the Synagogue very much. 'Come on another day and be healed', he said. Apparently, given that the woman had to wait 18 years, there wasn't too much healing happening on those other days.

Religious rules and regulations: it is easy to have ago at the leader of the Synagogue or the Pharisees, but we all have them: how to pray, right ways of worshipping, the right music to sing, the right instrument to play in worship, the right clothes to wear, the right behaviour, the right bible to read, the right ecclesiastical dress for clergy...and the list goes on. There is a touch of the Synagogue leader in all of us.

A closer look at the story will reveal that there are in fact two 'crippled' people: the woman and Synagogue leader. The Synagogue leader is also in need of liberation and healing: the law has held him captive. So much for him. What about you and me?

On a similar theme, a blog that is really very good.
                                                                                           
http://rachelheldevans.com/blog/literalist-gluttony

Chris

P.S. This week @ connecT: humility & fatherhood.

Jesus and the family - Luke 12: 49 - 59

Sometimes it is hard to grasp what Jesus is saying. He seems to be going against everything that seems to be at the heart of our Christian faith and practice. Many Christians hold the family up as being at the centre of Christian practice. There are some Christian political groups, and they are worldwide, who hold 'family values' to be at the centre of their political platform. Yet, last week's gospel reading seems confusing in the light of this:  'I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were kindled...I have come to bring division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter, and daughter against mother...' (Luke 12: 49ff). Some people have told me that this is one of their least favourite passages of scripture.

At connecT we spent time exploring this text and came up with some ways to interpret it:

• It is contextual.  Identifying Jesus as the Messiah (Lord) would have caused division within both Jewish and Gentile households, and it still happens today through out the world.
• For Jesus, the Reign of God always came first; even before family, and, especially, before money and possessions.
• Putting the Reign of God first also means that we can then approach our own families with the values of that reign: unconditional love, grace, mercy, justice, and forgiveness.
• Families are very important, but God's reign is more important!

This week at connecT we explore religious legalism. I'm sure we all have some thoughts on that!

Chris