Dear Friends,

I reflected this past week on the passage in Mark’s Gospel that relates Jesus’ encounter with a woman who, for 18 years, had been crippled by a spirit, bent over completely, incapable of standing erect. Jesus saw her and laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.

Can you imagine what it had been like for this woman to walk anywhere? She could not see who was approaching her, whether they were friend or foe; she couldn’t see the beauty of a sunset or the warning of an approaching storm. She would have missed all the expressions of joy and sorrow that passed on her loved oners’ faces. She saw feet not faces, dust and dirt not birds flying overhead or rainbows in the sky.

This woman’s vision in the Gospel was very limited—until she met Jesus.  She came to the Temple, probably while jostled and judged harshly by the surrounding crowds.  We know the whispers, “Sinner, unworthy… .” And those who in self-righteous curiosity ask, “I wonder what she or her parents did that made God punish her?”

She came to the Temple anyway. She could not stand in public worship, but Jesus saw her heart prostrate itself in humble adoration to the God she could not see. He called out to her and set her free.

 In many ways we can be like this bent woman. Crippled by powers outside of ourselves. Sometimes it is the consequence of our own choices: addictions, sinful behaviors or broken relationships.  Sometimes we are bent by the choices of others.  Year after year, we carry burdens that rob us of the joy of life. Jesus wishes to relieve us of our suffering and help us to once again see beyond our hurt to the beauty of the world around us.

Cast your burdens upon the Lord and He will sustain you. Psalm 55:13

Yours in the Heart of Jesus,

Donna Garrett