Jesus Affirms our Dignity in the Face of Empty Arguments
Today's Gospel reading (Lk 13) recounts Jesus' sabbath healing of the woman bent over. The synagogue official protests, “There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.” Jesus calls out their hypocrisy, “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?” The Gospel continues: "When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him." Jesus reminds us that our dignity and importance are far above that of animals - permitted to be tied, untied and led to water in exception to Sabbath rest laws. We are sons and daughters of the Most High, made in the image and likeness of God. ...