Today's Gospel in Art - A woman was bent double

Bent Woman, by Milos Todorovic 2018 © Milos Todorovic

Gospel of 26th October 2020 - Luke 13:10-17

One sabbath day Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who for eighteen years had been possessed by a spirit that left her enfeebled; she was bent double and quite unable to stand upright. When Jesus saw her he called her over and said, 'Woman, you are rid of your infirmity' and he laid his hands on her. And at once she straightened up, and she glorified God.

But the synagogue official was indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, and he addressed the people present. 'There are six days' he said 'when work is to be done. Come and be healed on one of those days and not on the sabbath.' But the Lord answered him. 'Hypocrites!' he said 'Is there one of you who does not untie his ox or his donkey from the manger on the sabbath and take it out for watering? And this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has held bound these eighteen years - was it not right to untie her bonds on the sabbath day?' When he said this, all his adversaries were covered with confusion, and all the people were overjoyed at all the wonders he worked.

Reflection on the Painting

Whilst the main point of our Gospel passage is about the controversy between Jesus and the synagogue leader, at its very core is the healing of a woman who was bent over, showing His compassion for us. Looking at our painting today by Serbian contemporary artist Milos Todorovic, what strikes us is how this woman must have seen the world for the past 18 years. She 'was bent double and quite unable to stand upright'. She probably could only look at people glancing sideways, from the corner of her eye. She could not see the world in any other way. Her illness or possession by an evil spirit prevented her seeing the world in any other way. When Jesus healed her, she could stand upright again and literally have a whole new perspective... on life.

Jesus' perspective on the Sabbath day was also unique. It would be very easy to paint the synagogue leader in our passage as simply the 'bad guy'. He probably wasn't. He probably had a lot of respect for God and his ministry. Even for the past 18 years he may have actually been the one who helped the woman in our story and gave her shelter. To tie in the healing of the woman with Jesus' attitude towards the synagogue official simply demonstrates the essence of Jesus' teachings. Jesus wants us to follow Him in everything and give our lives to Him, setting us free from what is holding us captive. The woman was held captive by the evil spirit, and the official was held captive by his judgement of people and hypocrisy. Anything that imprisons us has to be got rid of. For Jesus, compassion and love are paramount, trumping all other considerations...

LINKS

Today's story - https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/586

Christian Art - www.christian.art