Luke 13:10-17 tells the story of Jesus, on the Sabbath, healing a woman who had been bent over for eighteen years. She has no other name other than ‘bent over woman’.
Jesus is preaching in the synagogue to the men, all seated in the front, and the women, all seated in the back, but he notices the bent over woman and calls to her to come forth. After Jesus laid hands on her and healed her, the indignant leader of the synagogue kept reminding the people that no work was to be done on the Sabbath.
Pastor Beth said we have no idea why this daughter of Abraham was bent over. It could have been due to injury, illness, depression, worry, shame. Jesus reminded all in that synagogue that everyone, no matter what, is always welcome into God’s embrace.
We all live with being bent over.
Jesus knows our reasons and always offers a healing hand of Forgiveness, Grace, Mercy and Truth.