This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage? “When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him. -Lk 13:16-17
Friends, God is good, all the time.
Most of us are familiar with the idea of Personal Identification Number (PIN) in financial transactions. Financial security experts tell us that PIN provides extra security for completing an electronic transaction to gain full access. While PIN pertains to the world of finance, a variation of it, Personal Identification Name (PIN), equally applies to the realm of faith.
In a breathtaking incident at a Synagogue, Jesus reveals his knowledge of the PIN of an agonizing woman and sets her free from years of health problems. According to Luke, one day, "Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, "Woman, you are set free of your infirmity." He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God."
It is a fact that the woman had been in the throes of debilitating illness for eighteen years. Jesus had knowledge of the woman who was present to him in the crowd and called her by name to help secure her life against the burden of illness. As with the woman, we all have our PINs, and the Lord knows them all. The Bible attests to this knowledge in the words of Isaiah, "But now, this is what the LORD says, he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine" (43:1). You have a special PIN to use. The Lord knows your name. He gave you a name that it personal and unique to you.
However, as the electronic device is programmed to recognize the Personal Identification Number(PIN) of a legitimate user, we need to be present to the Lord with our PINs so that he can access our lives and deal with our challenges. Let the thoughtful recognition of St Augustine guide us in what he remarkably said, "He who created us without our help will not save us without our consent." That is true in other life supports we seek from the creator of our lives.
God loves and cares for each of us. But it is essential for us to permit him to work with us. The troubles we face, the joys we seek, the healing and restoration we look for in our relationship and life generally will all be taken care of as we enter our PINs into the divine data base through prayer. PIN is not only your access security to God, but it is also Praying in his Name (PIN) to receive all the help you need.
Prayer blessings: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.