Reflection for October 26 Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:10-17

Gospel: Luke 13:10-17

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. 

When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, “Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, “There are six days when work should be done.

Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.” The Lord said to him in reply, “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?” When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

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Reflection:

Was the woman crippled by a spirit listening to Jesus in the synagogue?

Yes, she was there on a Sabbath day, listening to the Lord. She had been suffering from an infirmity for eighteen years, making her life very difficult. Yet, when Jesus saw her, He called her forward and healed her (Luke 13:10–13).

What can we learn from this woman? Her presence in the synagogue reminds us of the importance of making time for God, even amid our struggles and difficulties. Like her, we must continue to draw near to Jesus and listen to His words, trusting in His love, mercy, and power to transform our lives.

But do we still make time to listen to Jesus? Sadly, many of us become so occupied with our daily responsibilities, worldly ambitions, and desire for material possessions that we gradually neglect our relationship with Him. We become so preoccupied with pursuing the things of this world that we forget to nourish our souls through prayer, the Holy Mass, and reflection on His words.

What, then, do we truly gain by allowing the material and temporary things of this world to consume our lives? Worldly possessions may provide temporary comfort, but they cannot guarantee lasting contentment or give us the deep and abiding peace that comes from God. 

No matter how much wealth we accumulate or how much success we achieve, we can still experience emptiness when we neglect our spiritual lives. Indeed, chasing worldly riches without making room for God can be like chasing the wind—we exhaust ourselves pursuing things that cannot satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts.

Therefore, let us not allow the attractions and demands of this world to drown out the gentle voice of Jesus. Instead, let us choose to follow Him more faithfully and listen to Him more attentively. Let us make time for prayer, open our hearts to His teachings, and allow His words to guide our decisions and relationships. 

When we welcome Jesus into our lives, we find a faithful companion who strengthens us in our struggles, comforts us in our sorrows, guides us in our confusion, and offers us His healing grace according to His will.

Like the woman in the Gospel, let us continue to draw near to Jesus, even when life becomes difficult. Let us remember that our greatest treasure is not what we possess but the relationship we nurture with Him. The world may promise us happiness through wealth, recognition, and success, but only God can satisfy the deepest longings of our souls.

Let us ask ourselves today: Are we giving Jesus the time and attention He deserves, or have we become so busy chasing the temporary treasures of this world that we no longer hear His voice calling us to a deeper and more meaningful relationship with Him?— Marino J. Dasmarinas