First Reading: Rm 8:12-17; Psalm: 68. R. v. 21a; Gospel: Lk 13:10-17

THE GOD WHO CARES

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

The woman in the gospel of today had lived for eighteen years bent over. She probably had prayed and sought medical help for these years but never got better. She was held bound by her impairment and perhaps had resigned to fate since her condition never improved. On this very day, she was in the synagogue maybe to listen to the teachings of the day. Jesus happened to be there at that same time and spotted her as she came in. That moment marked the end of her eighteen years of sickness and a new beginning in her life. If someone had told her that she would return home that day healed, perhaps she would have doubted.

Eighteen years is a very long time to wait on the Lord. Many of us don’t have that patience. We can easily give up hope on certain challenging conditions that we have tried to overcome and nothing changes. When we feel our prayers are not answered, a lot of us easily give up praying and hoping on God. But there is something revealing about God from the healing of this woman in the gospel of today. God does not overlook our sufferings even when we have accepted them as our fate. God will come to our rescue when the time is right.

To many of us out there who are experiencing different kinds of painful conditions; know that God does not rejoice in our grief. God is so much concerned about our wellbeing. We may not be able to explain or understand why at times it takes a long time for God to intervene in our situations; or why we would have to bear certain pain for a lifetime. But one obvious feature of God is his love and concern for our wellbeing. This is evident in the healing of today’s gospel. So, let our faith not fail as we wait on the Lord. Because every day, we experience God’s healing love. Only those with the eyes of faith can see this.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Lord Jesus, increase our faith in you. Amen.