St. Helier Parish 25th August 2019.

Luke 13:10-17
Proper 16.

The gospel according to St. Luke was written by a man called Luke. He was a
very learned man, who did a research on the life, ministry, death, resurrection of
Jesus Christ, as well as the life and ministry of his disciples after Jesus’ departure
by the ascension. He published his work in two volumes, the first one, what we
commonly refer to as the Gospel according to St. Luke and the second volume
what we commonly refer to as the Acts of the Apostles.

I do not know what make you feel uncomfortable, it might be meeting new
people, having a conversation about a certain topic, walking down a certain street,
receiving a call from a certain person. All these are examples of things that make
us feel uncomfortable.

Our reading this morning follows from the last few weeks of somewhat
uncomfortable readings we have been having from St. Luke. For instance, last
week I remember, it was about Jesus saying that he had come to bring division
and not peace! The reading was so uncomfortable especially with Jesus calling
the crowds – YOU HYPOCRATES! Our reading today is no different as Jesus
uses the same very words – YOU HYPOCRATES! This time round directed at
the leader of the synagogue.

What led Jesus to use such strong words? And what does this mean to us today
here at Bishop Andrewes Church/ St. Peter’s Church as well as in our personal
lives?

Well, let us look at three aspects of the story and how they pushed some of Jesus’
audience into great discomfort.

The story is about a woman who was bent over for 18 years, such a long time
indeed, so long that maybe very few people could remember her being upright.
Jesus was teaching in the synagogue on a sabbath day, he had been granted an
opportunity by the leader of the synagogue- he was a guest (like me today a guest
here). While he was teaching, a woman appeared who had been crippled for 18
years by a spirit. Jesus stopped teaching and called the woman over.

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This was the first discomfort. You see, during that time and context, a woman’s
role was not as we see it in society today. They were equated to possessions, they
were owned, they were but a chattel and for this reason, they did not have a say
in public life, leave alone the synagogue where they would defile it. Jesus calling
this woman to come over, to the front at this public space was revolutionary but
equally discomforting for some people. Jesus called this woman over, knowing
very well that the public space was never her place, that she might defile the entire
worship space, yet still He called her over.

We live at a time where exclusion is the order of the day, where walls are
becoming more prominent than bridges, where difference is elevated over
dignity. It is in this very context, that we who are called to Christ, are called
to be radical and cause discomfort to this status quo. Jesus called her over!

Jesus however did not stop at calling her to the front, he went ahead and healed
the woman of her ailment! The woman was able to stand up straight for the first
time in 18 years and her first activity was to praise God. How amazing? Jesus’
actions however seemed to make even his host, the leader of the synagogue
uncomfortable and this time, the leader of the synagogue could not keep silent.
He angrily, referred the crowds to the fact that the sabbath was not a day to come
for healing! What a contrast, a woman at the front of the Church praising God for
being healed, and the leader of the synagogue hopefully at the front, angrily
rebuking the crowds for what had just happened. What would be Jesus’ reaction?
Be nice and kind to his host and back him up, or stand with the woman? Jesus
choses the later, he stands with the woman, calling his host – the leader of the
synagogue, A HYPOCRATE!

It so encouraging to know that Christ will always stick by us, he will always
defend us, he will always be by our side regardless of what power or
authority might rise up against us, Christ will stand with us.

The third thing that Jesus did that was hugely uncomfortable was to give the
woman an identity. Jesus called the woman a daughter of Abraham. You see the
synagogue was mainly used by Jews as there place of worship, again to the Jews,
Abraham was their father, through whom they accessed God’s promises. By
calling her a Daughter of Abraham, Jesus makes an incredible statement right at

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the heart of the Jewish congregation, that this woman is a partaker of all God’s
promises – part of which is deliverance from bondage and life in liberty and
freedom.

Jesus, by him calling the woman over to a public space, healing the woman of her
ailment on a day of sabbath day and granting her an identity made many
uncomfortable, but it delivered the woman from great discomfort.

The gospel reading today, encourages us as a community here at Bishop

Andrewes/ St. Peters’, us as individuals, to lead lives that would make the
powers, attitudes, philosophies and ideologies that hold people captive to be
uncomfortable.

Powers like those of hatred, may we make them uncomfortable by the love of
Christ,

Attitudes like those of shame and dishonour, may we make them uncomfortable
with dignity and respect,

Philosophies like those of revenge may we make them uncomfortable with

forgiveness, and

Ideologies like those of division and oppression, may we make them

uncomfortable with kindness and meekness.

As I conclude, I wish to say that Jesus Christ does not shy away from
uncomfortable situations especially for the sake of us. He went through the most
uncomfortable situation of death on the cross - a very shameful death, that we
may be delivered from the bondages of sin and death, that we may be able to live
life and live it abundantly, and that at the end, we may join all the saints in glory
at that great banquet he has prepared for us in the presence of God the Father.

Amen.