Feel Tied Up or Oppressed?
“Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” – LK 13: 12
Is there anything that makes any of us feel tied up or oppressed? A question like this one during a time of Covid-19, this Election Cycle, a personal illness, addictions, troubles in the family -either in marriage or children, loneliness, or lack of Faith should have an easy answer. Any infirmity, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, can befall us for a variety of reasons and God can use it for some purpose that we do not understand. However, we must always remember that God is all merciful and all loving and brings about good and never bad. God provides yet another example of this in today’s Gospel.
When Jesus encountered an elderly woman, who was spent of her strength and unable to stand upright, He gave her words of Faith and Freedom and then Jesus restored her to health. She must have suffered much, both physically and spiritually for eighteen years. This elderly woman isn’t the only one to have experienced years of suffering, some of us can no doubt relate to this experience ourselves. How can something so painful last so long? Jesus reveals that Satan had bound her and the same can happen to us. How can Satan do this? The Scriptures indicate that Satan can act in the world with malice and can cause injuries of a spiritual nature, and indirectly even of a physical or emotional nature as well. Satan's power, however, is not infinite. He cannot prevent the building up of God's Kingdom or reign in our lives. Don’t believe it? Then go back and read the Book of Revelation, we win in the end as long as we stay true to the Faith, Hope and Love of Jesus.
Jesus wants to set us free from oppression. Jesus demonstrates the power and authority of God's Kingdom in releasing people who are oppressed by physical, spiritual and emotional sickness. This can occur either by personal weakness or sin, along with the harassment of the evil one in our lives. Remember, it took only one word from Jesus to release this woman instantly of her infirmity. Do we really believe in the power of Jesus to release us from our affliction and oppression?
Once again, the Jewish leaders were resentful that Jesus would perform such a miraculous work on the Sabbath, the holy day of rest. They were so caught up in their ritual observance of the Sabbath that they lost sight of God's mercy and goodness. Jesus healed on the Sabbath because God does not rest from showing His mercy and love, ever! God's Word has power to change us, spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Is there anything that keeps us tied up or that weighs us down? Let the Lord speak His Word to each of us and give us freedom and peace of mind.
"Lord Jesus, you grant freedom to those who seek you. Give me freedom to walk in your way of love and to praise and worship you always. Show me how I can bring your mercy and healing love to those in need around me."
May God’s Grace and Blessings Always be with you and yours!! Our Lady of Guadalupe – Pray for us!!
Yours in Christ,
Deacon Bob
St. Clare of Assisi
Houston, TX