There is nothing greater than love, and so we must love above all. For God is love.
So while it is our duty to correct a wayward child, we must love first. In ensuring safety measures and order in our churches, schools, offices and so on, we must also love and love beyond the safety nets. In all things let us choose to love first and with the love of Christ.
For it is our love and acts of mercy that we will find the Lord our God and we will dwell in His presence. For the Spirit of God lives in us! We are His children so loved by Him.
O God our Heavenly Father we Bless, worship and honour You. Thank You for Your Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for through Him alone we are saved and set free to love. Glory and Praise to the Holy Trinity now and forever. Amen
First reading
Romans 8:12-17 ·
The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God
My brothers, there is no necessity for us to obey our unspiritual selves or to live unspiritual lives. If you do live in that way, you are doomed to die; but if by the Spirit you put an end to the misdeeds of the body you will live.
Everyone moved by the Spirit is a son of God. The spirit you received is not the spirit of slaves bringing fear into your lives again; it is the spirit of sons, and it makes us cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’ The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God. And if we are children we are heirs as well: heirs of God and coheirs with Christ, sharing his sufferings so as to share his glory.
Gospel
Luke 13:10-17
Was it not right to untie this woman’s bonds on the sabbath day?
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.
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