Monday of Week 30 in Ordinary Time
Eph 4:32-5:8
Lk 13:10-17
“…was it not right to untie her bonds on the sabbath day?”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus heals a woman who was crippled by an evil spirit for eighteen years. When the synagogue officials objected to Him healing her on the Sabbath, Jesus asked, “Was it not right to untie her bonds on the sabbath day?”
What are the invisible but damaging bonds that we see in Singapore today?
For some, it could be addiction — to vaping, gambling, or other vices/habits that people may be struggling with, even when they know it is hurting them. For others, it could be a deep-seated fear of being criticised. They feel the need to maintain a squeaky-clean image in front of others. Everything must appear perfect. No flaws. No mistakes. No blemishes.
Digging deeper, could our true bonds be loneliness and emptiness? We may scroll through social media all day long, surrounded by updates from friends and acquaintances. We may be addicted to some kind of substance, whether legal or illicit. If we do not appear perfect, we may feel insecure or fear rejection. But at the end of the day, do we truly feel connected and fulfilled?
For me, loneliness is always an ongoing struggle. It has always been difficult to fit in at school and in the workplace, especially when I am the only person with disabilities. Even at home, I sometimes feel isolated because my family may not fully understand the challenges I face.
Honestly, I don’t know what a future completely freed from loneliness would look like. I’d love to never feel lonely again. But time and again, God has always sent people into my life who accept me for who I am. One friend stood by me during a time of grief, reminding me that even in sorrow, I do not have to carry everything by myself. Another friend supported me in my journey towards independence, including the seemingly simple task of buying a new smartphone. What may seem like an ordinary purchase to you, my dearest readers, actually involved many considerations for me — from finding a small-sized phone that fits my small hands to navigating soaring price hikes, a tight budget, and volatile market conditions. Having someone in my corner who understood my concerns and supported my decision meant the world to me.
I’m slowly learning that I do not have to walk this journey of life alone.
And Jesus didn’t wait for another day to free the woman from her suffering. He saw her pain and chose to act, even when others thought it was ‘not right’, simply because the healing fell on the Sabbath day. His compassion reminds me that no one should have to wait until they are perfect, accepted, or deemed worthy, before receiving love.
Let us, as true Christians, help to shoulder the bonds that our dear friends in Christ are carrying, to reach out to those who feel forgotten, and to help one another experience the freedom that comes from being seen, accepted, and loved.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Brenda Khoo)
Prayer: Dear Jesus, may we have the courage to let You untie our bonds, and may Your compassion help untie the bonds of others. Amen.
Thanksgiving: Dear Lord, thank You for the people You have placed in our lives, who remind us that we do not have to walk through life alone. May we, too, become instruments of Your love and compassion to those who feel alone. Amen.
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