Introduction

In today’s gospel Jesus asserts the right to free the woman from bondage on the Sabbath. What might we be called to assert in our very different context?

 

Context 

Many have been following the Olympics and many have been as excited as in 2012. Team GB are currently second in the medals table, and have had their most successful overseas Olympic Games ever. Whilst there is no obvious direct connection between the Rio Games and today’s Gospel, the reflections below suggest some questions we could ask.

 

Reflection

The woman in today’s Gospel story had suffered for 18 years. Many of the athletes in the Olympics have given up lengthy periods of their life to training. Of course, they could choose, whilst she, in bondage to her circumstances, could not. But what is it like to be committed, whether from choice or force of circumstance, for such long periods to extraordinary conditions of life. Some of the athletes have spoken in interviews about darker times when they questioned their commitment. And we rarely hear the stories of those who do not win medals. Might those who have committed themselves to training and then fail (as they will surely see it) turn to despair? And what about those whose commitment to extraordinary conditions of life (like the woman in today’s Gospel story) is imposed on them rather than chosen. Did the woman despair? Was it her extra-ordinary circumstances which drove her to the Synagogue that day? And what might she have done afterwards with her new freedom?

 

Ordinary people are inclined to wonder what motivates people to become elite athletes. The sheer dedication of the individuals and their coaches, and the commitment by their families and others close to them, is extra-ordinary. They have decided to hone their God-given gifts in ways few of us would dare to consider. Most of us would hesitate before even contemplating such commitment often over many years. Yet, if one takes the gospel seriously, are we not challenged to show a similar level of commitment to our faith? Are we perhaps unwilling to take our freedom and use all our gifts? Might it be fear of failure which prevents us from such commitment? Lucy Winkett’s Thought for the Day for Tuesday 16 August reflected on this point.

 

Referees and judges at the Olympics make hard decisions on close calls particularly in sports where judge-based scoring is central. Might some games’ officials have been tempted to be as indignant at the behaviour of some competitors as was the Synagogue leader in today’s Gospel? Have you and I ever become indignant at the behaviour of others? I have certainly found myself indignant when meeting some loud-mouthed sports fans on Saturday trains!

 

The 1981 film Chariots of Fire told the story of Eric Liddell, a runner who refused to compete in the 100m final at the 1924 Olympic Games because it was being run on a Sunday. In today’s very different context, few of us would take such a principled stand and some might develop an argument against Liddell’s stand based on today’s gospel. But if he truly believed in the principle, was Liddell right to assert it as he did?

 

Prayer

Two brief prayers related to the theme of gifts:

God, who gives us so much,
help us to be thankful for all your gifts,
above all for the skills which you give each of us.
And help us to use all our skills and abilities
to your glory, all our days.
Amen.

Loving God,
when we avoid developing your gifts, forgive us;
when we fear to use your gifts, forgive us;
when we fail to use your gifts, forgive us;
in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

In your intercessions consider remembering those who have returned from competing in the Olympics with no medals and those preparing for the Rio Paralympic Games (7-18 September).

 

Questions

Do you use all the gifts God has given you?

Are you afraid of where such gifts may take you?

Does a fear of failure affect you?

Do you (like the woman in the gospel) long to be free of some part of your circumstances?

What might it be like to be free of them?

 

Action

Most of us will never be athletes (and wouldn’t life be boring if we could all perform that well in all those sports?). But nevertheless, reflect on your personal experiences of following the Olympic Games. What excited you? What bored you? Consider what action you might take in your own life, or in the life of your group. Might getting and keeping fitter be one such action?

 

Young people

In your life, do you plan to use all the gifts God has given you? Do you put effort into the subjects at which you are good at school? How might using those gifts enrich your life now and in the future?

 

Dudley Coates is a Local Preacher in the Yeovil and Blackmore Vale Methodist Circuit and a former Vice President of the Methodist Conference.