Behold a daughter of Abraham
“And
behold a woman having a spirit of infirmity 18 years”[1].
Or as the NRSV puts it “And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that
had crippled her for eighteen years”[2].
We slide past that line. And yet here is the crux. Behold – and invisible
woman, invisible for 18 years, is seen by Jesus. He sees not a cripple, not
someone with a problem that needs dealing with. He sees a daughter of Abraham. Everything
stems from that. In being seen her spirit of infirmity leaves her, her bonds
are loosed, and she is able to stand into fullness of life, restored and
visible.
In
contrast the synagogue leader sees only sick people wanting healing. Come
another day. Today is God’s Sabbath. The rules, the theology, the preconceptions
get in the way. He can’t see.
When
we look at others do we really see them? Do we see sons and daughters of
Abraham? Or people needing help/healing/whatever?
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