Monday – 30th Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel – Luke 13:10-17

Come to Me??

Stone of Anointing, Church of Holy Sepulchre

As I mentioned yesterday, Ginger and I spent the past 2 weeks at home in Southern Maryland, along with my 2 sisters, working together to help manage our Mom’s care.  Weeks before that, we made a conscious and deliberate decision to travel home, coordinating with my sisters Mary and Theresa on a plan of action.  There was no real cry for help – come home!  There was no MayDay or SOS!  We just recognized all that Mom was going through (not to mention all that Theresa was dealing with) and we made the choice to gather together to work on a care plan!

And that is the one little detail we all probably miss in today’s Gospel.  There is no falling at Jesus’ feet – heal me!  There is no ‘come to my house and cure my servant.’  There is no opening of a roof to bring the crrippled man before Jesus!  No!  Instead, Jesus sees the woman unable to stand straight and He calls to her!  He goes to her!  It’s the only time in the Gospels when Jesus takes the initiative!  And the woman responds – with praise, with gratitude, with faith!

Let that sink in a bit.  Jesus sees her suffering and He doesn’t wait for her to come to Him.  He doesn’t wait for her to ask for healing!  He immediately goes to her!! 

What about us?  Jesus knows what we’re feeling; He comes to us when we struggle with life!  He hears our prayers!  He is right there beside us!  Do we know that?  Do we recognize His presence?  Do we acknowledge it? How do we respond?  With praise?  With gratitude?  With faith?

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