God Sees us, God Calls us!

by Deacon Lorna Goodison on August 18, 2022

    “And when Jesus saw her, He called her….”

    What brought you to a turning point in your faith journey? I remember the moment when with unspeakable awe and joy, I was awakened to two truths of our faith; God sees us, and God calls us!  God sees and God calls even me and you!  This truth brought me to a turning point in my life’s journey.  Overwhelmed with tears of joy and repentance I committed my life to God.  

      On Sunday, we will read Luke 13:10-17 which describes the faith journey of an unnamed, lowly, woman. As was His custom, Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath day. Among those listening to Jesus was a woman with an ailment that left her bent over for eighteen years. Amid a crowd of able-bodied folks, standing tall, it would have been easy to overlook a crippled woman. But Jesus saw her. Jesus was attentive to a lowly female. More amazingly, Jesus was attentive to a lowly female with her body sloping downward. Jesus looked deep within her and discerned her immense physical and spiritual suffering. Jesus saw a woman who was searching for healing, for despite her illness, with courage and determination she made her way to the synagogue to see and hear Jesus. He saw the depth of her soul, as He sees the depth of our soul. He sees when our hearts are sincere and when in our state of sin, we need healing. Jesus called the woman and laid His healing hands on her. 

        The woman, now healed, could look upward physically and spiritually.  She recognized that it was God’s power and loving compassion working in Jesus Christ that healed her. She found faith and hope. With a sincere, joy-filled heart, she praised God, and her very being became evidence that proclaimed God’s saving power, His goodness, and love.

       But the story does not end with communal praise to God for the woman’s healing in the synagogue. Instead, the leaders became indignant and turned the conversation of her healing to the Levitical law that prohibited work on the Sabbath. They interpreted Jesus’ healing as work and failed to discern God’s priorities of compassion, mercy, and love. They did not understand that true Sabbath rest is attained only when all that keeps us burdened and heavy-ladened is lifted.

        Jesus’ healing of the woman bent over revealed God’s powerful movement in salvation history. We are all invited into a true sabbath rest of our souls, in God’s kingdom. The Levitical law requiring rest from work on the Sabbath is necessary, as is the setting aside of the Sabbath for worship. But more importantly, the Sabbath law foreshadows the promise of interior sabbath rest, found and fulfilled in the One whom God sent to bear the weight of our sins and dysfunctions. By the saving work of Christ, we are released from the inner burden of guilt and shame. The Good News is that God sees us, God calls us. God rids us of our heavy burdens and God in Christ offers us the gift of true Sabbath rest for our souls. Thanks be to God! 

Tags: compassion, joy, repentance, healing, rest, sabbath, god's power, god sees, god calls

About the Author
Deacon Lorna Goodison

Reverend Lorna Goodison was ordained to the Diaconate on April 29, 2007. After discerning a call to ordained ministry, Deacon Lorna completed a process of spiritual discernment and pursued three years of study at the Diocesan School for Christian Studies. She also completed three units of hospice care training through Vitas and for a short while she was a volunteer Chaplain. Highlights of her continuing education activities include a guided visit to Israel and attending the Festival of Homiletics in Boulder, Colorado.

Soon after her ordination, Deacon Lorna was called to serve as Deacon at St. Mary Magdalene. She initiated an outreach ministry to the homeless at St. Laurence Chapel, obtaining the support and involvement of most members of the congregation. This ministry remained a vibrant outreach of the Church until the Chapel closed in 2019.  Other outreach ministries formed include an informal group of members who stay in touch with members who are ill and shut-in. Deacon Lorna remains committed to both the in-reach and outreach ministries of the Church. She has led quiet day reflections for groups within and outside of St. Mary Magdalene. She has often led Deacon’s Masses at small churches without a priest. Of all the ministries in which Deacon Lorna participates, she is most humbled and grateful to be involved in the ministry of praying with congregants facing life’s challenges.

Deacon Lorna serves the Diocese of Southeast Florida as a member of the Disciplinary Committee. She also serves on the Board of Deacons.   

Professionally, Deacon Lorna worked for some years in Human Resource Departments as a Training Manager, but most of her working years were spent in Social Work. She worked with at-risk teenagers counselling them and guiding them to resources to build a meaningful future. The last twenty years of her profession, were spent working with Seniors, guiding them to the resources needed to maintain their safety and independence. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a master’s degree in Adult Education. She is now retired, cherishes some alone time for prayer and reflection, but divides her time between the Church and her family which consists of two daughters, their husbands and three grandchildren.

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