This Sunday at Covenant the liturgical color changes from red to green as we enter the liturgical season of Kingdomtide. Kingdomtide came about as an effort to break up the very lengthy Season of After Pentecost.
The assigned readings for Kingdomtide tend to stress charity and assistance to the poor, the sick and the stranger. So, it’s very appropriate this new season begins with a story of healing and being set free by Jesus. It is not a message welcomed by the many religious leaders of that day or today when it comes to disadvantaged communities. The assigned text for Sunday, Luke 13:10-17, demonstrates that too often everything old is new again.
In the story, Jesus healed a woman who had been sick for 18 years. He says to her “Woman you are set free from your sickness.” The religious leaders were outraged, raised a “but” because this miracle took place on the Sabbath. Jesus argued that, as a daughter of Abraham (and Sarah), she was a person of sacred worth; therefore, what He did was a holy act and not a violation of the law. The irony is that He is teaching the teachers the difference between rules and the rule of God’s love. They miss the point completely. The people, however, did not, because Luke concludes the story by contrasting how the people rejoiced while the religious leaders grumbled and complained.”
There will always be those that try to steal the freedom God brings into your life with a “but.” Just remember, that no matter what, as a child God, you are a person of worth! In this case follow the crowd and do what the did in the Gospel story: “rejoice at the extraordinary thing God has done” in setting your free.
And join us for worship this Sunday at Covenant and a birthday reception that follows celebrating those born in August. My sermon will be “Jesus said ‘You are Set Free!’ But …” based on Luke 13:10-17.
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