You are set free

0:06

Give Thanks

Steffany Gretzinger

Today is Monday the 26th of October, in the 30th week of Ordinary Time.

As you begin to pray today, bring to mind something you are grateful for; something you would like to treasure with the Lord.

Stephany Gretzinger sings, ‘Give Thanks’ by Henry Smith.

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"

Let the poor say, "I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us"

Give thanks

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks becausе He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

Givе thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"

Let the poor say, "I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us"

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"

Let the poor say, "I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us"

Give thanks

Look at what You’ve done

Oh, we give thanks

Look at all You've done

We pour it out on You, God

We give thanks

4:24

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 13:10-17

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. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, ‘There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.’ But the Lord answered him and said, ‘You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?’ When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.

6:50

Give Thanks

Steffany Gretzinger

In this scene, Jesus is in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Begin your prayer by imagining that you are entering the synagogue - noticing the leader of the synagogue and the people around you.

Now watch the woman in our scripture as she enters. She has been crippled for eighteen years, is bent over and unable to stand up straight. How do you feel as she shuffles by with her stick, near to you?

Jesus sees the woman... imagine his eyes upon her, not just a glance but a long, compassionate gaze. ...How might you feel if Jesus gazed upon you in this way, knowing that he sees your struggles, your ailments, your hopes and your love? ....Let him gaze upon you now.

As you listen to the reading again, watch the woman as Jesus lays his hands upon her.

10:13

Luke 13:10-17

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. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, ‘There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.’ But the Lord answered him and said, ‘You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?’ When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.

12:27

Try to picture the woman’s facial expression as she stands upright for the first time in many years, upright and full of praise to God. Perhaps you feel that something binds you, such as an illness or state of mind for example that prevents you from praising the Lord in the unconstrained way in which the woman now praises? Try to feel the warmth of the Lord’s presence with you as he sees you and listens to your prayer.

14:25

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen