Scripture:
Romans 8:12-17
Psalm 68:2, 4, 6-7b, 20-21
Luke 13:10-17
Reflection:
"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God…"
I read over the Scripture readings for today several times over the last week or so in preparation for this reflection. I kept going back to how I could combine the first reading about following the Spirit of God, and in the Gospel how Jesus did what was right and "worked" on the Sabbath. The answer is simple: If you live in the Spirit of God, you will do what is right and what is decent. But, it may not necessarily be quick or easy.
We are all children of God. No matter our age, race, religion, gender, etc. But, do we strive on a daily basis to follow the Spirit of God, or do we just make time for it when we are in Church? In this day and age when technology is advancing at the speed of light and information is at our fingertips in an instant, everything around us moves in a blur. Do we take the time to step back and reflect where our lives are at and which direction we are heading? Do we make time for God in the middle of the workday – more than just "please God let me get this done so I can move on to my next task?" We each have to find a way to slow down, even for a few minutes, step back and make time for the Spirit of God each day. He is always in the background of our lives, but I think sometimes we forget to acknowledge His presence.
Yes, it is God’s law to keep the Sabbath holy. We can do that, but there are also things in life that won’t wait until the Sabbath is over. We understand that what Jesus did was right and decent. Why should the woman wait another day? When the leader of the Synagogue ridicules Jesus for "working" by curing the woman, he also ridicules the woman for coming to be cured on the Sabbath. Jesus is angered by this because we can live our lives in the Spirit of God but still have to do some type of work on the Sabbath. So what do we say to people? Are they wrong because they have to "work" on the Sabbath? No, they are doing what is right, what is decent and not necessarily easy because we are all children of God, we live in the Spirit of God,
Claire Smith ([email protected]) is on staff at the Holy Cross Province Development Office in Chicago, Illinois.