Today, Marg Gobius, the Leader of School Evangelisation at MacKillop College reads from the Gospel of Luke (13:10-17) in which Jesus cures a woman of a chronic infirmity, which had affected her for many years.

Marg says, in this story a woman had been bent over for eighteen years, unable to stand up straight. This is a lot like the burdens we often carry in our own lives, whether it’s anxiety, grief, or something else that weighs us down. It took meeting Jesus, a man of compassion and freedom, to finally be released from her pain.

Jesus didn’t wait for her to ask for help. HE SAW HER, called her over, and said, “Woman, you are set free.” He then touched her, and she immediately stood up straight and praised God.

This act of healing on the Sabbath made the synagogue leader angry. He thought Jesus shouldn’t have healed on the day of rest because it broke the rules. He cared more about the rules than the person in need.

Jesus challenged the leader’s thinking, reminding them that the woman who had been held captive by her infirmity for eighteen years, was much more important than the Sabbath rules.

Jesus shows us that being kind and helping people is more important than sticking to rules. He reminds us that rules are meant to help people, not to hurt them or stop them from being healed. When our rules or traditions become more important than showing love to those who are suffering, we miss the whole point of our faith.

So, what does this mean for us?

Look for People in Need: Try to notice the people around you who are “bent over” by their own burdens. You don’t have to wait for them to ask for help; you can be the one to reach out. A simple conversation or a kind gesture can make a huge difference.

Choose People Over Rules: Think about a time when your “rules” or routine got in the way of being kind. Are you so focused on a schedule that you miss a chance to help someone? This could be as simple as putting your phone down to listen to a friend or as big as standing up against a system that hurts people. Remember, Jesus’ example shows that love is the most important thing.

Find True Freedom: The woman’s healing was an act of freedom. What is holding us back from standing up straight?

Just as Jesus set the woman free, he offers us freedom from our own burdens.

In closing Marg invites us to pray that the Holy Spirit guides us to let this story inspire us to be people who act with compassion, people who notice the needs of others, and people who always choose people over the busyness of life and rules.