On the 24th Sunday After Pentecost, with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, His Grace Siluan, Bishop of Orhei and Vicar of the Metropolis, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the “Nativity of the Lord” in Chișinău, accompanied by the Cathedral clergy.
This Sunday, marked by the Gospel reading about the healing of the bent-over woman, highlights the compassionate love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who not only heals bodies but also liberates souls tormented by the power of evil. Despite suffering for 18 years, the bent-over woman remains a model of unwavering faith, continually seeking God in the synagogue. Through the miracle performed on a Sabbath, Christ reveals the value of the human person and the priority of love over any external observance of the Law.
Saint Luke of Crimea emphasizes the stark contrast between the healed woman and the synagogue leader. While the latter presented himself as a teacher of the people, he was, in truth, devoid of love and mercy, concerned only with upholding the letter of the law rather than its spirit. “Hypocrite!” says the Lord, exposing hypocrisy as a grave sin: “The leader of the synagogue claimed righteousness and honour, but his heart was full of harshness and lack of compassion. He cared about observing forms but was a stranger to love for his neighbor,” explains Saint Luke.
The healing of the bent-over woman thus illustrates two approaches to the Law: the dynamic and sincere faith of the woman, who draws near to God, and the rigid, superficial adherence of the synagogue leader, focused on empty forms.
Through this miracle, Christ not only rebukes hypocrisy but also calls us to an authentic Christian life, bearing fruit in acts of mercy and love for those in suffering. Saint Luke encourages us to follow Christ’s example, emphasizing the salvation of souls above all else: “The Lord shows us that our Christian life must bear fruit, evident in mercy and love for all those who are suffering.”
During this time of preparation for the Nativity of the Lord, fasting becomes a call to purify the soul and embrace our vocation as “children of the Most High” (Psalm 82:6) by following Christ’s commandments.
A multitude of faithful, “with the fear of God, faith, and love,” partook of the Holy Eucharist.
Source: https://manastireacurchi.md/