June 13, 2010 at Saint Mark Church in Norman, OK
Samuel 12: 7-10, 13 + Psalm 32 + Galatians 2: 16, 19-21 + Luke 7:36-8:3
A story of extravagant love excites our imagination, stirs our hopes, and challenges our spirit. A Pharisee with a name invites Jesus to dinner, but obviously not for any reason other than the desire to watch Jesus or trap him in some way. The most common sign of respect and honor is absent: no foot washing. A woman without a name gets into the house somehow says not one word yet preaches a powerful sermon on love. The story has always left me wondering if this Pharisee, Simon did not set up the whole thing. After all, how would that woman have gotten into the dinner? Posing as a servant? I doubt it. Poor Simon accuses Jesus of not being able to see what kind of woman is there, but Simon cannot see what kind of man is there in Jesus. All caught up on externals, Simon is horrified that the woman has touched Jesus. Yet it seems to me that Jesus has somehow touched her in a way he cannot touch Simon.
In Luke’s Gospel this story comes just after Jesus has responded to the question of John the Baptist about who he is. The people have begun to think Jesus is the Prophet, and Simon the Pharisee is determined to show that Jesus is no prophet. The best prophet in the room is the woman. She knows who this is, and she knows what to do about it: Love, and show it! This woman has found healing forgiveness, and out of love she comes to Touch, to kiss, to wash the one who touched her heart and forgave her sins. She isn’t there to earn forgiveness by groveling on the floor. Her sins were forgiven before she got there because she believed.
The faith of this woman is the point of this story, Faith its consequences of forgiveness and loving service is what Luke invites us to see. Her faith freed her from more than her sin. It set her free from shame and from guilt. Once free from the power of that shame which is always hidden like a secret, she cares nothing for what others may think of her, ignores their stares and remarks, and comes publicly with love and joy to touch the feet of the one who set her free. This woman has believed that God is forgiving, And so, her love is great and her service sincere. She does not come to earn forgiveness by washing the feet of Jesus. That is not why she is forgiven. Earning forgiveness is not why she has risked crashing that party. She had come to believe that God who knew more about her than those Pharisees loves and forgives her, and so her behavior reveals the joy and the love she has because of her faith.
What a powerful lesson she teaches us here in Luke’s classroom. We act sometimes as though we do not believe that our sins are forgiven. We let shame trouble our hearts, and guilt isolate us from the very one who calls us to believe leaving us to look more like Simon the Pharisee all concerned with how things look rather than letting joy and love move us to service. She is moved by the love of God for her, moved to the point of risking ridicule, scorn, and the disapproval of others moved to service of Jesus Christ moved to touch, kiss, and bathe. The issue here, the challenge, the question raised is the measure of our faith? Is there enough faith in us for some extravagant display of love and service?
Enough faith to risk ridicule and disapproval by our love for Christ shown in service?
Is there enough faith in any of you young people to risk doing something with your life that might make others laugh? The truth of this Gospel is that we are all set free from shame and guilt. Our sins are forgiven yet we do not walk away from them because shame and guilt is sometimes preferable to service and love. It’s easier to hide in shame than take the risk of coming to the feet of Jesus in gratitude. It’s easier to stay in bed or go shopping than step through the doors of this church.
When the stares, the judgments, the name calling of others intimidates our fidelity, our generosity, and our service of anyone, there is no faith, no hope, and no joy. If we believe that our sins are forgiven by the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are going to be on our knees at this table where He still sits, and we’ll be wiping the feet of those the society of Simon has refused to honor and respect with care. If Jesus has truly touched us, and we can see who is present in our midst, then no ridicule will keep us from loving and serving.