(Please read the May 24 entry before starting this one. Thank you.)
The woman was so shocked that she could actually stand up straight and walk normally, but she was no longer the center of attention. No, now the crowd had taken over with wild approval and excitement. But, the leader of the synagogue was beyond irritated. He was angry.
"If you want to be healed, come on the six other days of the week when we do such work. Don't come on the Sabbath because we're resting...And as for you, the Rabbi, who did this the same thing applies: We work six days a week and we rest on the Sabbath."
Translated: "I really don't care that this woman was in distress. She's been here for years. Really, who cares? There are hundreds more like her. Why should our sacred rules be broken for one disabled, old woman? And for you, a rather upstart young Rabbi, who are you kidding? What makes you think you have the authority to break our Mosaic law? You have a long way to go if you plan a career working in the synagogue."
And then, with eviscerating authority the Rabbi countered with charges like "You hypocrites" and "You feed and water your cattle on the Sabbath so why can't this daughter of Israel be healed on the Sabbath?" This Rabbi had no interest in return teaching engagements in this synagogue. No, his career amongst the Jewish elite was swiftly coming to an end.
The crowd was completely hushed listening to this extraordinary dress-down of the authorities in charge of their sacred worship. What did this mean? Was he really saying the old, broken woman was worth more than their cattle? Was he really suggesting that caring of those in need was more important than the Mosaic law?
His argument sounded so risky to the crowd, but there was no comeback from the authorities. They went away in silent shame.
They disappeared, the woman walked straight, and the crowd cheered.
Those cheers lingered for a few weeks at best. And then they turned on the Rabbi.
In the meantime, he carried on his teachings amongst the people and healed again on the Sabbath. Once again he was met with reproach from the authorities and once again he shredded their arguments. Once again he made the point that people are more important than religious rules.
As for the this woman, she isn't heard from again. We never learn her name and no other writer tells her story. But, her story was important enough to include in one of the earliest Gospel texts. And the writer of this text was Luke the Physician who cared for people just like her.
This woman spent her life doing what she thought was right in fulfilling her religious obligation to attend the synagogue. It had never done anything for her, but she kept going. Then, one day out of the blue someone calls her forward to heal her body and her life is changed forever. And the calling her forward on that particular day broke all the rules.
This is Grace --- it breaks all the rules.
(Luke 13:10-17)