Proper 16C’25
24 August 2025
Luke 13.10-17
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
North Little Rock, Arkansas
The Rev. Carey Stone <+>
O Jesus, Good Shepherd of Your Sheep and Great Physician of all souls: Heal the wounds of all of your children who have suffered abuse and harm at the hands of the church, guide them to the green pastures and still waters of safety and healing, through the Christ who also suffered at the hands of sinners. Amen. – The Rev. Carey Stone <+>
“Going to the chapel and we’re gonna to get ma-a-a-ried…” (The Dixie Cups)
Well, maybe not – only about 24% got married in churches last year and that was down from 41% in 2017. Today folks are more likely to get married in a barn, on a farm, in a historic home or on a beach than in a church.1 This is in line of course with the declining trends in church attendance
Twenty years ago, an average of 42% of U.S. adults attended religious services every week or nearly every week. In 2015, the figure fell to 38%, and it is currently at 30%. There is one other demographic group that is actually growing – those Americans with no religious affiliation. This group was at 9% in 2003 increased to 21% as of 2023.2 These trends only accelerated during the pandemic
We could spend a lot of time picking it apart as to the reasons for this trend; you’ll be relieved to know we aren’t going to do that. Instead, we’re going take a look at today’s gospel where will find a partial answer to our present-day declines.
The setting is at a synagogue on the Sabbath day, where Jesus is teaching. Suddenly, out of nowhere comes a woman who is literally stuck in a bent over position – a position she had been stuck in for 18 years. Terrible excruciating back pain – some of you know how tough back pain can be. There was not even so much as a Tylenol or an Ibuprofen tablet to ease her pain. The scripture says when Jesus saw her, he called her over, he could have ignored her and kept on with his teaching but he called her to come over to him, which required her to walk in front of the whole congregation. Jesus told her “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” Next, he laid his hands on her, and immediately she stood straight up and started praising God! Can you imagine the delirious joy, the shouts of praise and exaltation?! All the people who witnessed this miracle were open mouthed, jaws to the floor in joy except one particular person the religious leader of the synagogue. In fact, they couldn’t wait to rain on this parade of joy with a strict observance of the law. They turned to the congregation and said: “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.” How cruel, how mean, how hurtful. The last thing this poor woman needed was more religious rules to follow she was ready to rejoice after her long and painful ordeal. This is what religion at its worst can do to folks shut down their rejoicing and remind them that if they step out of line God the cosmic killjoy is going to somehow punish them. Cruel, mean, and hurtful. Power and control is the name of the game. The leader of the synagogue couldn’t have healed anyone to save his life; he couldn’t compete with Jesus so he had to get the upper hand through enforcement of the rules to keep Jesus in a one-down position.
Time does not permit to tell the horror stories of the abuses of various kinds that have happened to people in the name of God. As we can see from today’s gospel the cruel and mean ways of power and control religion have nothing to do with Jesus and everything to do with the human ego and their own psychological and spiritual wounding – put simply, hurt people hurt people.
On that fateful day the woman had come to the synagogue looking for love and hoping against hope for some acceptance. She was quite used to being overlooked, minimized and discounted as a disabled person, and due to some bad theology, blamed for her malady seeing it as a punishment from a harsh and wrathful God. But Jesus had come to church that day and that made all the difference – instead of overlooking the women as a disturbance to the service he saw her…we all long to be seen, particularly if there is something about us that society looks down on. He called her over and healed her. When the synagogue leader lays down the law to Jesus, he refuses to let his legalism and narcissism win the day. Jesus rejoices with the woman and calls the leader on his hypocrisy: “You hypocrites!” On the sabbath day don’t you untie your donkey from the manger, and lead it to where the water is so it can drink? Shouldn’t this dear daughter of Abraham who has been bound by a debilitating disease for eighteen years be set free from her bondage on the sabbath day? All the leaders were put to shame and the rest of the crowd rejoiced because of all the wonderful things Jesus was doing! Not power – not control – but love and compassion are what the woman got through her encounter with Jesus. Dear ones there are people all around us, some of whom have come into our very midst and some have stayed who are hungry for acceptance by a loving God and a loving community of faith who doesn’t want to control their lives but to help them find their way to the peace and abundance found in Christ.
Here at St. Luke’s, it really is all about love! We seek to be a place where God’s power and compassion emanate to a hurting and chaotic world, badly in need of God’s mercy and love. We are the people called to that service. Amen
1 https://www.google.com/search?q=how+many+are+getting+married+in+churches+in+america&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS701US701&oq=how+many+are+getting+married+in+churches+in+america&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigATIHCAUQIRirAjIHCAYQIRiPAtIBCjQ1NTEzajBqMTWoAgywAgHxBcL6LLGF6hT58QXC-iyxheoU-Q&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
2 https://news.gallup.com/poll/642548/church-attendance-declined-religious-groups.aspx#:~:text=Nearly%20All%20Faiths%20Seeing%20Declines,do%20not%20attend%20services%20regularly
Prayer of healing for those who have been harmed by the Church
This prayer focuses on acknowledging the pain inflicted by the Church and seeking divine healing, restoration of faith, and justice. It is crafted with sensitivity toward the trauma, betrayal, and spiritual harm that victims have endured
.
Heavenly Father, we come to you with heavy hearts, lifting up all those who have been harmed by the very institution meant to represent your love. You see the invisible wounds, the shattered trust, and the pain inflicted in your name. We pray for all who have experienced abuse, betrayal, and spiritual trauma within the walls of the Church.
For the victims whose faith has been shaken, we ask you to meet them in their brokenness and minister to their wounded hearts. Where they were given stones instead of bread and judgment instead of grace, remind them of your true and unwavering nature. Heal their memories, remove their feelings of shame and guilt, and restore their peace.
For those who have lost their spiritual home and feel isolated, draw them close to you and remind them that they are not alone. Surround them with a community of understanding and support, where they can find empathy and acceptance. Guide them to a safe place where their worth is affirmed and their voice can be heard without fear.
For those who perpetrated the harm, we pray for a heart of repentance and accountability. May they be convicted of their actions and brought to justice, so that all can see the clear distinction between their brokenness and your unfailing righteousness.
Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts, heal the wounds of your people and transform their brokenness into wholeness. Grant them the courage to reclaim their voices and the wisdom to discern genuine spiritual practices rooted in your love. May their stories not be defined by pain but by the transformative power of your healing grace.
May the justice they seek be enlightened by your truth and may all who have been harmed find peace in you. Strengthen their spirits with faith and remind them that nothing can separate them from your love.
In the name of Jesus, who is the Good Shepherd and the ultimate healer of the brokenhearted, we pray. Amen. – Prayer generated with AI assistance on Google