On Sunday, during the Divine Liturgy at the historical chapel of “St. George the Great Martyr” at the Patriarchal Residence, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel emphasized the necessity of performing good deeds at all times, even on holy days.
Goodness Knows No Rest
His Beatitude explained that no occasion, including religious celebrations, should prevent believers from doing good:
“A holiday is not an excuse or an obstacle to performing good deeds for our neighbour,” stated the Patriarch of Romania.
Reflecting on the Gospel passage about the Healing of the Bent Woman, His Beatitude affirmed that this Sunday’s Gospel “teaches us that good deeds must be performed at all times.”
The virtues of the crippled woman
The healing of the crippled woman highlights her humility. Despite suffering for over 18 years, she continued attending the synagogue to pray without asking for physical healing.
Jesus healed her out of compassion: “She did not use her illness as an excuse to avoid praying with others in the synagogue.”
His Beatitude emphasized that Jesus healed her unprompted because He is never indifferent to human suffering: “He knows each person’s pain and restores both physical and spiritual health when He finds living, humble faith in their hearts.”
By calling her a “daughter of Abraham,” Jesus acknowledged her strong faith, as Abraham is considered the father of faith.
Body Bent, Soul Raised to Heaven
Patriarch Daniel explained that the crippled woman symbolizes suffering borne with humility and dignity: “Her body was bent toward the ground, but her soul was upright, directed toward Heaven, in prayer.”
God intervenes even when humans no longer persistently seek healing: “God works in a person’s life when and how He wills, pedagogically and wisely, even when His response seems delayed.”
The healing reveals a more profound meaning: “Christ lifts humanity from spiritual bondage, freeing it from Satan’s grip and enabling people to focus on their ultimate goal—not the earth or the grave, but the Kingdom of Heaven.”
The Mystery of Humanity’s Redemption
The miracle underscores humanity’s restoration through Christ, who reaffirms human dignity by lifting people from suffering. The bent woman becomes a teacher of virtues and a model of authentic humility and enduring patience: “The Saviour Jesus Christ shows us the mystery of humanity’s redemption through His healing, sanctifying, and elevating work.”
The Patriarch described her virtues: “She suffered silently, without complaint or rebellion, without asking for pity. Her body was bent, but her soul was upright, turned toward Heaven in prayer.”
Finally, Patriarch Daniel urged believers to follow Jesus’ example: “We should not wait to be asked or persistently urged to do good. If we see someone in need, we should help immediately and willingly. We must do good every day, even on holy days.”
Photo: Lumina Newspaper
