Healing at the Pharisee’s house Luke 14: 1-14
Imaginative Contemplation
Enter into the scene
I was surprised when we were invited to the Pharisee’s house for dinner one Sabbath day. It seemed that the Pharisee wanted to hear more from Jesus. He got more than he expected!
I noticed a man there who had some crippling condition, affecting his arms and legs. This must be a kind Pharisee to invite someone like that to dinner! Or was there something else going on? Some of the scribes were looking at the man, then at Jesus, nodding their heads and whispering with the Pharisee. I could feel a storm brewing.
The crippled man limped across to our table. I got up and set a chair for him. I heard Jesus sigh. He then asked his host, ‘Is it lawful to heal a crippled person on the Sabbath Day or not?’ silence all around. Jesus turned to the man and said gently but firmly, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He did so, he could do so! ‘Oh, thank you, thank you,’ he cried and stood up, able to walk unaided. ‘Jesus leaned towards him and said, ‘you can go home to your family now, if you like.’ The man ran away overjoyed at what had happened to him.
But there was a storm brewing in the room. The muttering stopped when Jesus spoke. ‘Wouldn’t you pull a child of yours out of the well if he fell into it on the Sabbath day? God’s law is there to save lives, not to destroy them. The spirit of the Law is much more important than the word, though both are necessary.’
I could sense a tension in the room. Jesus never seems to please these leaders of ours. And he seems to ask for trouble. I thought it would have been a good idea to fly under the radar, but not Jesus! He sat there, watching the new arrivals as they tried to get the best seats where they would be served more quickly and would be able to talk to the host more easily. ‘Why can’t they just sit down? They will get a meal soon, won’t they?’ I asked. But Jesus said, ‘Oh no, they want the best places for themselves.’ He stood up and I knew that he would challenge them in some way., ‘Hey, friends, don’t push each other to get the best place. Did you see what happened a minute ago? One of the new arrivals chose a reserved place, and now he has been asked to move, much to his embarrassment. You don’t want to be shamed, do you? Choose the lowest seat, and then the host will invite you to come up higher.’ There were some giggles around the room. Jesus was talking sense to them.
For further reflection
Discuss with Jesus the following points:
· The Pharisee seemed to have a hidden agenda for inviting Jesus to dinner. Am I aware of my hidden motives?
· Do I try to understand the spirit behind God’s laws so that I can obey them more fully?
· Do I notice people’s needs? Do I help where I can? (helping the crippled man to sit down)
· Do I choose the best place for myself?
· Do I think that I am better/cleverer than others?
Prayer
Lord, help me to value community and diversity so that I can give and receive help and support when it is needed. Help me to keep the spirit of the law as well as the outward command. Amen.