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October 29, 2012

In today's gospel we hear of a woman who has been worn down by some illness or worry for 18 years. She is bent over and crippled with her pain, whether emotional or physical.
"Jesus saw her and called her over," says Luke. The woman did not ask or shout. This time Jesus took the initiative, he did not wait. But what had the woman done? She had turned up to hear the word of God. And when he saw her faithfulness to her Jewish religion Jesus could not refuse the woman.
How often do we just sit down and read a piece of scripture which seems to speak directly to our heart and say exactly what we need to hear at that moment? If we allow ourselves to hear the word of God and if we listen carefully then we shall often be healed of the emotional and physical pains that bedevil us.