Jesus Sees You

Gospel Reflection for October 30, 2023

“He was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, ‘Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.’ He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, ‘There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.’ The Lord said to him in reply, ‘Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering? This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?’ When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.” (Luke 13:10-17 NABRE)

Imagine the woman’s situation in today’s Gospel. We’ve probably all been in her shoes before. This woman had been suffering from terrible bondage for an awfully long time. She probably felt alone and abandoned in a world where no one could, or would, help her. After eighteen years of this terrible pain and suffering, this woman probably fell into desperation and hopelessness.

Have you been there before? Or are you experiencing this now?

The only One Who saw this suffering woman, acknowledged her pain with mercy and compassion, and had the power to cure her, was Jesus. Like a beautifully bright light in the pitch black dark, Jesus came along and healed this suffering woman. And even after eighteen years of pain, the first thing this woman did was glorify God. She recognized the action and power of the Lord as the source of her healing.

May we find courage and hope from the story of this woman’s restoration. Even when it seems like all hope is lost, even when we’ve been suffering all alone for so long, Jesus sees us.

Our Lord is with us always. He is our strength and support. He loves us and looks on us with compassion. May we turn to Him for comfort, and trust that He is in control of our lives and whatever is hurting us.