Jesus the Healer: Bent out of Shape

There was an extraordinary deep inner peace and freedom in Jesus of Nazareth, 

which shows that he was ultimately free from a culturally, historically, 

and even religiously conditioned constraints and prejudices.  

~ Francis J. Moloney

Welcome dear friend, to a series on the healing stories of Jesus. The root of the word healing in New Testament Greek, sozo, is the same as that of salvation and wholeness.  (UM Book of Worship)

I invite you to enter into a time of deep prayer with scripture as we explore the healing stories of Jesus.  Gather your journal if you have one, your bible and something to write with or simply use your computer, I've provided everything you need.

Before you begin, stand up and bend over as if your back had a permanent curvature, stay in this position and explore the way your body feels, scan and notice.  Try to move and fully feel the restriction in your movements as you are "bent out of shape."   Now stand up straight.  Scan your body again.  Notice how your body feels differently in this stance. 

Begin with a "Breath Prayer"

Breathing in ... Healing Jesus 
Breathing out ... Set me free
Repeat your breath prayer until you feel relaxed and centered

Pray for illumination of the text, use this one or pray what emerges from within you:   Healing Jesus, sometimes I fell weighed down with my burdens and heavy with my struggles.  Touch me and set me free from my infirmity.   Amen.

1.  Lectio/Read:   Luke 13:10-13 (NET) As you read, perhaps there is a word or phrase that will draw you to it.  Pay attention. Turn the word or phrase over and over in your mind.  Simply sit with your word or phrase and be grateful. 

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath, and a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten herself up completely. When Jesus saw her, he called her to him and said, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” Then he placed his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

2.  Meditatio/Meditation

Read the text a second time.  You may find that the same word has energy for you, but you may also find that another word has become more alive with meaning.  Pay attention.  What is weighing you down and causing your body to be bowed and bent out of shape?  How does your word or phrase call you to freedom.   Take your word and write freely, in your journal or on your computer.  Don't think about what you are writing as you let God lead you deeper.

3. Oratio/Pray 

Read the text a third time.  Then read your own writing if you wrote anything.  Are there any connections you can make between what you read and the writing that flowed from your reading?  How do you respond to the freedom God is calling you to?   Take a moment to write again in your journal or on your computer as a prayer in response to what you have heard.   

4. Contemplatio/Contemplation 

Take a moment to pause.  Allow your breath prayer to emerge again.  You can use the same one from the beginning or perhaps a new one will emerge for you.  As you continue to pray, let the words fade away into silence. Spend time simply "be"ing with God. 

Allow your experience of praying with scripture to come to a close when you are ready to move on.  Let the Spirit lead you and guide you into the presence of God.

Close with a prayer to send yourself into the world, use this one or pray what emerges from within you:  Healing Jesus, I praise you for your healing presence in my life, freeing me from the burdens that weigh me down.  Help me always stand straight and tall as I carry your presence into the world.  Amen.