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The Daily Devotional
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Restored to Full Stature: Dignity, Justice, and the Lenten Journey
“Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.” But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?” When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.” — Luke 13:10–17
Introduction
We have reached the Third Sunday in Lent, the "middle stretch" of our journey toward the cross. By now, the initial zeal of Ash Wednesday has often faded, and we are left walking through the quiet, sometimes challenging wilderness of our own hearts. It is here, in the middle of the desert, where the deepest spiritual transformation takes place.
Today, our Lenten steps also intersect with March 8, widely observed as International Women’s Day. The United Nations began observing this day in 1975, and in 1977, formally encouraged member states to mark a day for women’s rights and international peace. For Christians, recognizing this day is not a departure from our spiritual focus, but a profound expression of it. Acknowledging the dignity, strength, and contributions of women is fundamentally about honoring the Imago Dei—the image of God—stamped upon half of humanity.
Reflection
In today's Gospel, Jesus is teaching in a place of spiritual authority when he stops everything to notice a woman who has been overlooked and physically crushed by her circumstances for eighteen years. He does not wait for her to ask for help; he calls her to himself, heals her, and restores her to full stature. Crucially, when criticized for breaking religious rules to heal her, Jesus publicly defends her, granting her the highest spiritual dignity by calling her a "daughter of Abraham."
This is what God does: He raises up those who have been bent over by the burdens of the world. Throughout Scripture and history, we see this resilient spirit in women. Many faith communities reflect on Proverbs 31, which is too often reduced to a narrow domestic checklist. Read fully, it is a magnificent portrait of a woman clothed in "strength and dignity" (Proverbs 31:25), honored for her profound wisdom, business acumen, physical courage, and faithful, public initiative.
Yet, Lent reminds us that there is a difference between mere celebration and true discipleship. Honoring women requires more than quoting poetry; it requires the hard work of repentance. It asks us to look honestly at where we have dismissed women's voices, spoken over their wisdom, or failed to seek justice with humility.
The UN’s 2026 observance theme is: “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.” As Christians, we do not need to view these words through the lens of partisan politics, but through the lens of Christlike ethics. Jesus believed in the right of the bent-over woman to experience God's wholeness. He enacted justice by confronting the hypocritical systems that sought to keep her marginalized. And he took action, grounded in perfect neighbor-love and mercy.
We see this holy strength lived out every day in the ordinary world. Consider the steady courage of an experienced ICU nurse finishing a grueling night shift, who still finds the energy to firmly and professionally advocate for a vulnerable, non-English-speaking patient when the medical team is rushing through morning rounds. She doesn't speak up for applause. She does it because she possesses a calm strength that recognizes the inherent dignity of the person in the bed. Her advocacy is a quiet, powerful force of everyday justice.
Application
As we continue our Lenten journey this week, consider how you might translate repentance and love into concrete action:
Practice "Lenten listening": Make an intentional fast from interrupting. Create quiet space in conversations to truly listen to and learn from the women in your family, workplace, and church community.
Examine subtle bias: Spend time in prayer asking the Holy Spirit to reveal any unconscious habits or assumptions that cause you to discount women’s leadership, ideas, or contributions.
Amplify and affirm: Publicly and specifically acknowledge the good work, wisdom, or courage of a woman you know. Affirming someone's God-given gifts helps them stand a little taller.
Support safety and education: Act for justice by donating your time, resources, or skills to an organization that provides education, maternal care, or safe harbor for vulnerable women and girls, either locally or globally.
Conclusion
Lent is not merely about giving up luxuries; it is about giving up the habits and systems that diminish the dignity of others. It is a season that shapes us into people of courage. As we follow Christ toward Jerusalem, may we be transformed into a people who actively honor the image of God in all women, expressing truth and love not just in our words, but in our steady, faithful actions.
Prayer
Gracious and loving God, we give You thanks for the faithful women throughout history and in our own lives who have reflected Your wisdom, courage, and enduring love. As we walk this Lenten path, we ask for Your healing and forgiveness in the places where we, or our societies, have caused harm, disregarded voices, or failed to uphold the dignity of Your daughters. Fill us with the courage of Your Spirit so that we might champion rights, justice, and action shaped entirely by Christ’s merciful love. We remember today all women and girls who are vulnerable, overlooked, or oppressed, asking that You would lift them up, protect them, and use our hands and voices to help them stand tall. We ask this in the strong and saving name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Devotional by: Kenny Sallee, ThM — Deming, NM, USA
The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989, 1993, the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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