Diane DuBois - March 28

Week 6 - Luke 7:36-47

Saturday, March 28, 2015

A Forgiveness Reflection from Diane DuBois

We have all been in situations that were so awkward and uncomfortable that no one involved knew how to respond.  In this passage, we are presented with a very awkward moment, but instead Luke paints a picture of God’s love and ultimate forgiveness, as well as an example of true thankfulness and love in response to that grace.  Simon the Pharisee has invited Jesus to his house for a meal.  However, an uninvited, sinful woman comes to Jesus with what was likely her most prized possession, an alabaster jar of perfume, and pours it on Jesus’ feet while her tears and hair anoint His feet, showing the respect and honor Simon neglected to demonstrate.

 Jesus recognizes the tension and tells a parable, the point of which is that the person who is forgiven the largest debt will love more than the person who is forgiven the smaller debt.  Simon seems to “get it,” but Jesus continues.  He asks, “Do you see this woman? . . .she has not stopped kissing my feet. . .she has anointed my feet with ointment.  Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. . . .”  Instead of seeing this woman for who she truly is, all Simon could see is a sinner behaving inappropriately.

This story makes me question what I truly ”see” as I encounter the diversity around Milwaukee.  Do I see only outside appearances of different ethnicities, only the alcoholic, drug addict, prostitute, or mentally ill and fail to see people of God in need and equally deserving of His grace and forgiveness?  Am I as guilty of the same judgmental attitude as Simon?  The truth is that Jesus has rescued all of his followers whatever their circumstances from eternal death.  The power of His love and forgiveness belongs to us all.   

Heavenly Father, Help us to cut through the awkward moments.  Open our eyes to see those people who are most needy of God’s grace and love, including ourselves.  Help us appreciate the depth of your mercy and be grateful for your forgiveness.  Amen.

Mark Petersen - March 27

Week 6 - Luke 7:36-47

Friday, March 27, 2015

A Forgiveness Reflection from Mark Petersen

It is often easy for us to be like the Pharisee Simon and to get lost looking at the past sin of others rather than showing the “great love” of the woman.  By looking at the past sin of others, we miss the opportunity to show our “great love” for what Christ has done for us.  We seem to think no one else can be transformed as we have been by this “gift” which even forgives our present and future sins.

How can we show this “great love?”  Although we cannot physically wash Christ’s feet with our tears and kisses, wipe them off with our hair and then pour fine perfume on them, we can show our “great love” as the woman did by sharing our blessings in the service of others. We can visit the sick, the imprisoned and the shut-ins. We can feed the hungry. It can be as simple as a kind word. We know that Jesus tells us, if it is done “unto one of the least of these . . . it is done unto Me.”

There are those special moments when you see Christ’s face in those you serve.  Last year I dropped off a box of apples at a pantry operated by Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.  As I carried the box down the stairs, a family with two young children came up the stairs.  I handed each boy an apple and received huge smiles from both of them. Christ shone through their smiles.

Christ, You have done so much for me which I can never repay.  I can only show my love for You by serving others and finding You in their faces. Amen.

Dennis McBride - March 26

Week 6 - Luke 7:36-47

Thursday, March 26, 2015

A Forgiveness Reflection from Dennis McBride

Reading Luke 7:36-47, I am always touched by the woman’s sincerity and faith, and struck by the harshness of Jesus’ lesson to the Pharisee. In this moment, we see God both as loving Redeemer and as strict Judge of mankind. This is not the tender Jesus of children’s songs, but the Jesus who sees through hypocrisy.

As we learn in so many Gospel passages, Jesus does not care who has a high position in society; He is the protector of the weak and small. Outcasts of all kinds – the sinner, the prostitute, the Samaritan, women in a male-dominated society – find favor with Jesus when they accept his love.

Who among us is without sin? Who hasn’t felt stung by humiliation for having done wrong? Who hasn’t felt alone in a dark hour, aware that, whatever others may think of us, God knows when we have sinned? There is no escaping the painful truth of such moments. Like the woman in Luke 7:36-47, our sin brings us to the verge of despair, but Jesus gives solace when we ask for forgiveness.

As Luther said, “My heart, which is so full to overflowing, has often been solaced and refreshed by music when sick and weary.” In dark moments, I often turn to a favorite old hymn, “Softly and Tenderly”:

Oh, for the wonderful love He has promised, Promised for you and for me!

Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon, Pardon for you and for me.

I am reminded that, no matter what the sin, Jesus will forgive us if we ask sincerely. Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling to sinners, come home. Jesus will welcome me home with love, if I seek forgiveness with sincerity and have the humility to ask.

Lord, forgive me for my pride. Please help me to love others as you love me. Help me to forgive those who have done me wrong. With the gifts you have given me, let me do your work. Amen.

Kate Nesheim - March 25

Week 6 - Luke 7:36-47

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

A Forgiveness Reflection from Kate Nesheim

It is rare to have a friend who praises you when you have publicly embarrassed them. It is also remarkable for someone to tell you what you need to hear, even when doing so ruins their reputation. In Luke 7:36-47, Jesus does both these things. God still does both for all of us.

Who in your life would you defend at any cost? And, who would defend you? Jesus valued the “sinner” woman enough to defend her when everyone in the room found her actions entirely inappropriate. Cultural historians tell us that, for a man of good standing, this woman’s display of affection—washing his feet with her tears, drying them with her hair, pouring perfume on them—would have been mortifying. According to Kenneth Bailey’s Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, the other dinner guests may have suspected him as one of her partners. This was horrible timing, because it was likely that the Pharisees hosting the dinner party were testing Jesus. In refusing him water, kiss, and an anointing, they were “hazing” him. When Jesus praised the woman at Simon’s expense, he certainly lost his standing among these powerful people. He did it anyway, because he was delighted with her. In the same way, God values us, humble as we are, far more than he values any so-called “standing” with the powers of this world. 

Who will be honest with you when you have done wrong? Jesus also valued Simon enough to reprimand him when he needed it, even at great social cost to himself. Jesus calls out the Pharisees’ hazing ritual, and tells Simon that he is being ungrateful. As readers, we can ask ourselves where God is showing us the ways we hurt people around us. God will never tire of helping us end our harmful behaviors.

Lord, you love me enough to honor my good intentions, even when the result is not what I intended. You also value me enough to correct my wrong actions through the Holy Spirit and Scripture. Help me to love and value others as you taught us. Amen.