I love today’s gospel about the woman physically bent over for 18 years!!! Can you even begin to imagine what her life was like for those 18 years: in pain, discomfort, unable to look up. Jesus freed her and healed her, so she could stand straight up!! A miracle indeed.

But Jesus healed her on a sabbath, infuriating the leader of the synagogue. Thus same religious leader will “untie his ox” on a sabbath but Jesus can’t heal a woman suffering for 18 years? Why should she have to wait until the day after the sabbath? If an ox can be taken care of on a sabbath, an animal, why be upset about healing this daughter of Abraham???

HYPOCRISY!!!

Most of us have an inner reality of the heart that “bends” us in spirit. Perhaps it is loneliness, fear of rejection, being unable to find a life partner, seeing a loved one suffer, or dealing with the daily pain of arthritis or a debilitating condition. We may be “bent over” in spirit due to a bitter or jealous spirit, envy, the need to control, a divided relationship, or addiction.

Jesus wants you freed on any day of the week.