Unexpected Healing

“Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment." When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.” From Luke 13:10-17

I love this story from the Gospel of Luke because there is something particularly moving about the healing of this woman. Crippled for 18 years, she was probably resigned to her situation—so much so that she didn’t even ask to be healed. Nobody in the community brought her forth or advocated on her behalf. She couldn’t even raise her eyes upward in praise, so you can only imagine how compromised her view of the world had become through such a long and profound affliction. But Jesus did see her. He called her, set her free from the physical ailment, and then laid hands on her to symbolize her full return to community. It’s no wonder that her only response was standing up straight and praising God.

It is powerful to imagine a God who notices what feels like an unchangeable reality and acts as a force toward healing. At times I have the mistaken notion that it’s all about my agency, effort, and awareness. Or I assume those things that are most intractable in my life are things I need to accept as the final outcome. Being invited into a worldview that imagines God recognizing our burdens and wanting nothing more than our freedom is astonishing. It is a beautiful reminder of God’s love and care even when we feel invisible.

The other thing I notice is that this woman was in the synagogue; she placed herself in community, and that is the place of Jesus’ healing and the recognition of her plight. When we carry heavy burdens, it can be tempting to isolate ourselves. Jesus’ healing presence and love often show up when we least expect them, and his love and care are often mediated through someone else, someone in community.

So, if you’re feeling world-weary, try showing up to community. Also, show up when you’re in a good place too; maybe you are the one called to notice another who needs your love and support.

Peace, Beth +