Where do we get our tendency to compartmentalize most aspects of our lives? On a broad scale we distinguish between race, gender, geographic region, and nationality. Unfortunately, the way people are treated may depend on where they fall into these categories. We also have a tendency to categorize our time spent and relationships that we have. How many times have you witnessed someone pleasant in a given situation but behave the polar opposite in a different setting? Unfortunately, not all Christians act the same way Monday thru Saturday as they do on Sunday. We have work friends and church friends and other social circles that may never intersect one another. I am reminded of George Costanza from Seinfeld when his girlfriend began to spend time with the group and George was concerned about Independent George being snuffed out by Relationship George. It was this episode where George proclaimed “A George divided against itself, cannot stand.” Most of us are not this dramatic but can more than likely relate to his example on some level.
In today’s gospel, Jesus identifies a woman in need who has come to the synagogue to worship. Jesus demonstrates compassion toward this crippled woman whom we are told had been suffering from her ailment for 18 years. Upon seeing her, Jesus is compelled to relieve her of her burden. Jesus initiated the healing as he called her to him without her having to ask. Jesus highlights the status of the woman as a daughter of Abraham, much in the same way as we might refer to one another as children of God. The religious leaders had become conditioned by their religious beliefs on focusing on the letter of the law and not the spirit of the law. Our society is not immune to such conditioning. Churches are often times looked to for support, especially for food. However, most food pantries operated by many churches are only open on certain days of the week at certain times of the day. Unfortunately, hunger does not share those same time constraints. The suffering of those less fortunate than us is daily and hourly. The poor struggle 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
A few years ago, I read a story of a man in Brazil who struggled with homelessness for 35 years – half of his entire life. His beard and hair were long and matted. His clothes, much like his body, were dirty and severely worn. He was unkempt and struggled with personal as well as mental hygiene. He lived on an island, which doesn’t sound too bad, except that it was a median at a busy intersection. His home was a makeshift tent fashioned out of a tarp, surrounded by garbage. One day a woman overcame the social barriers that exist between the haves and have nots and befriended him. In exchange for her compassion, he shared some of his original poetry with her. She was so moved by the man’s poetry that she started a Facebook page to display his work. The page gained 48,000 followers but one man who took notice of the work would change the poet’s life. It was his brother. He took his long lost brother in and gave him a home, completely transforming and enriching his life and the life of his family. Today, the Facebook page has over 186,000 followers from all over the world. His suffering has been relieved and his hope renewed and fulfilled – none of which would have been possible without the compassion of a stranger who stepped outside of her cultural conditioning and reached out to a fellow human being.
We all at one time or another have crossed paths with someone in need – a family member, a neighbor, or perhaps a complete stranger. Their needs are not always material. Everyone needs love. Everyone needs compassion. There is no special training or abilities needed to be able to meet their requirements. We need only show that we care. The good news from today’s reading is that there are no boundaries to God’s grace and mercy. God will not be contained by whatever limitations we can dream up. God cares about our struggles and is available each and every day to each and every one of us to lead us down a better path. How might we reflect that same compassion and mercy in the world around us? The first step is allowing God into those areas which we think are off limits. God doesn’t want just a little time here and there. God wants all of our time. We must continually seek out opportunities to demonstrate love for our neighbors in all areas of our lives. This may entail some monetary investment, but it may also take the form of a kind word. It might only require that we listen. Either way, you will be revealing God’s love for the world, and nothing is more powerful than love! Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples. Amen.
