Addictions

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. 

But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, "There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day." 

The Lord said to him in reply, "Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering? 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. (Luke13:10-17)

Imagine being 18 years crippled by a spirit and bent over.  Many of us are mentally and physically crippled and bent over caused by addictions that can last a lifetime.  

We likely know many people who suffer from those bad spirits or afflictions and cannot stand erect. Through our compassion and care we can help them stand or go straight.  Like Jesus, we can lay our hands on them to support them and pick them up when they fall so many times. We can try to set them free from their bondage and infirmity.  For those seeking a “cure” from alcoholism, we can accompany them on their perilous journey simply by not giving up on them.  

There is a saying: “It is easy if you try (John Lennon’s “Imagine”).”  For addicts and those who know and love them, it’s never easy, but we must keep on trying.

Deacon David Pierce