A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 13:10-17
Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, “Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, “There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.” The Lord said to him in reply, “Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering? This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?” When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.
REFLECTION: “Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.”
The Innocence Project, founded in 1992, helps put an end to wrongful conviction through DNA testing and new evidence. In doing so, criminal justice is slowly being reformed. These lawyers and advocates take on cases from friends, family and incarcerated people. Research has shown that at least 4% of people on death row are likely innocent. Unfortunately innocent people have been executed. As a result of their effort, people are united with their families and are given their second chance.
God deeply desires our freedom. Through Jesus Christ our liberty has been obtained, but unlike the Innocence Project, we are all "guilty" and it is through His love and mercy that we are set free. Jesus came to release us from the grips of the devil, breaking the bondage of Satan.
God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has welcomed us as His family. And in being a child of God, there's nothing we did to get this invite. Every time we are faced with problems, infirmities or just need help, turn our eyes toward the Face of Christ, look at Him and hear Him say. "You are set free of your infirmity".
God Bless You
