I am not ashamed to admit that I found it difficult to determine how to approach the story Luke tells of Jesus healing on the sabbath. The obvious theme is that Pharisee’s need to get over themselves because bringing God’s grace to a woman who is hurting is certainly more important than observing the rule to do no work on the sabbath. The problem I have with this interpretation, even though it is one that rings true for me, is that it directs our attention toward our world and away from God. The parables and stories included in scripture are intended to point us to God and their kingdom, yes this often involves pointing out human folly, but we must be careful not to focus all of our energy in this one area.
I think that we naturally slip into the rhythm of looking for the obvious in scripture primarily because we are not as familiar with the entire arc of scripture as we would like to be or think we are. The positioning of these stories is very intentional and when we take them out of their context some of the meaning is lost and I suspect that is why we tend to gravitate to the obvious instead of stepping back and looking for the broader message.
This particular story lands right between the parable of the fig tree, which is about repentance and the parables of the Mustard Seed and Levan which are both about how the kingdom of God cannot be controlled. When we take this all together a broader understanding of God’s kingdom begins to appear. The parable of the fig tree recounts a vineyard owner who was ready to have the tree cut down because it didn’t produce fruit for three years, the gardener asked him for one more year during which time he would give it special attention, we do not know what the owner decided, but the implication is that he changed his mind or repented. The story of the woman’s healing immediately follows, implying that repentance will bring healing.
On the heals of Jesus’s rebuke of the temple leaders he immediately describes the kingdom of God as a mustered seed whose growth cannot be stopped and the yeast that causes bread to take shape. The implication being that once repentance and healing occurs nothing will be able to stop the kingdom of God from growing.
As I reflect on the state of the world, and our country, our state, and even my own community I am prepared to accept that I am nervous about our future. Something is broken and I don’t mean the usual level of brokenness that is just human existence; I mean that our culture has shifted to the point that what was once the standard for civility has shifted. What was once said behind closed doors is now shared openly without regard for impact. There has been a breakdown in respect for authority under the guise of freedom. There is a pervasive sense that everyone is entitled to an opinion on everything and they are free to share it. There is a growing sense of entitlement in general as if we are all free to go wherever and do whatever we want. My greatest fear is that we are moving further and further from realizing the kingdom of God and I think that frightens me more than anything else, but instead of cowering in fear I believe that it is our duty as followers of Christ to ask where is God’s grace in all of this? Where is the immediate forgiveness and love that is God’s grace?
God’s kingdom is manifested in many ways and we are all forgiven and loved whether we ask for it or not, but that truth does not immediately transform the world, that would be a true miracle and an example of God directly intervening in the world, which we all know God doesn’t do.
The formula to transform this ever more broken world into the kingdom of God is simple, at least on paper it’s simple and we find that formula in Luke’s gospel. Step one, repent. Reflect on our words and actions, find the errors in judgment, recognize them and learn from them. It is only after we realize our mistakes that we can truly change our behavior. The vineyard owner was urged to change his mind and allow the fig tree more time, which presumably resulted in a tree full of figs the following year.
Step two, heal. This means many things, but there are two components that are vital. Seek the forgiveness of the people you harmed and accept God’s forgiveness, or what we might call forgive yourself. It is by seeking forgiveness of each other that we experience the manifestation of God’s grace in the world. Healing is truly about wholeness, and we will not feel whole when a wrong goes unresolved. We may bury it for 30 years and forget about it, but deep down the feeling of hurt or guilt will still be there and it will affect us without us realizing.
Step three, recognize repentance and healing for what it is, a freely given gift from God, first manifested in the flesh as Jesus Christ as a sure sign of the kingdom of God. The healing of the woman on the sabbath is a window into the kingdom. It gives us a glimpse of the healing power of God’s grace of forgiveness and love and demonstrates for us that in God’s Kingdom things will be different.
While I am nervous about the state of our world, I am also hopeful. I am hopeful that with time and the grace of God that our species will realize how our new technologies and attitudes are affecting the fabric of our society and adjust our societal norms in recognition of the fact that rabid individualism and entitlement are not healthy and are causing great damage. I am hopeful because the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, once it takes root very little can dislodge it.
Learning by Fire! 