Woman set free

Good morning. My name is Revd Caroline Brown and I am priest in charge of the small friendly ecumenical church of St Augustine’s, Springfield.

Yesterday I had been feeling burdened by a number of things that are going on, both work things and personal things. It had all seemed too much. I wonder if you have times like that? Feelings of being burdened and worried about the future. I guess most of us do.

Then yesterday as the sun was setting I was strolling barefoot on my favourite Essex beach, which was deserted, the sand soft and cool and wet beneath my feet. I love to walk near to where the waves breath, and yesterday they were little waves, that lovely rhythm as they break and then suck back, rather like breathing. A soft breeze was blowing, the wonderful salty tang of the sea, gulls crying overhead. I breathed in the air deeply and my troubles slipped away, and I concentrated on being there.  and time seemed to stand still. My shoulders relaxed.

This for me is a sense of freedom, that I really cherish. I wonder what your sense of freedom is and what’s important to you? what gives you a sense of freedom.

Our reading from the bible today is about a woman who wasn’t free. She was bent over double and couldn’t see the sky, couldn’t see faces and people couldn’t see her either. I expect they saw her bent back first. We can do that, can’t we?

 Someone I know was bent double like that and I’m sure that must have been hard for her, but she never moaned and stoically got on with things. But in order to see her face and for her to see my face I had to get right down with her. Faces are so important aren’t they, for really seeing someone, so I would imagine it would be isolating not being able to see faces.

And the same with his lady.

Jesus saw her and said the simple words Woman, you are set free from your ailment and laid his hands on her, I assume on her bent back and she stood up straight and was amazed. We can imagine the sense of freedom she felt, looking around with joy at people’s faces smiling at her. she praises God giving thanks for what has happened. What joy!

But then a leader of the synagogue rains on her parade and tells her off.

And Jesus is cross, cross with him for wanting to keep her from freedom and joy. He calls her a daughter of Abraham – he is saying she is important, a key member of the community. Jesus stands up for her, as he stands up for us.

Jesus wants each one of us to have freedom and joy in our every day lives. Freedom from all that burdens us.

Jesus says, ‘Come to me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.’ This is an invitation to all of us.