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Gospel Lesson for the
Week
June 17, 2007
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Third Sunday after
Pentecost
One of the Pharisees asked
Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his
place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having
learned that he was eating in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster jar
of ointment.
She
stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her
tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and
anointing them with the ointment.
Now when the
Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a
prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is
touching him--that she is a sinner."
Jesus spoke
up and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Teacher," he
replied, "Speak." "A certain
creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other
fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now
which of them will love him more?"
Simon
answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt." And
Jesus said to him, "You have judged rightly."
Then turning toward
the woman, he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house;
you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears
and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came
in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil,
but 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. But the
one to whom little is forgiven, loves little."
Then he said
to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
Luke
7:36-48
.
Prior History
.
There had to
be something that went before.
The simple exchange we
have is not enough.
Simon, it seems, and his
companions
knew well what she
had been.
Jesus knew what she had
become.
All that the dinner guests
can see is Sinner
All that Jesus sees is
Sinner saved by grace.
Somewhere along the way
he’d met her
and he had cleansed her
of whatever demon
possessed her.
Whatever went
before,
whatever sins
or indiscretions,
were swept
away.
But how?
Is forgiveness
purchased
with a costly
bottle of perfume,
or humble act
of devotion?
Hardly so.
No crass transaction, this:
Perfume for
absolution!
More complex
and yet more simple than that.
The transaction had been
completed
before she’d barged in on
Simon’s dinner party.
And this was just her
thank-you gift.
No wonder now she spends
her time, her cash, her
love at Jesus feet,
anointing him with costly
perfume and tears.
And the lesson
for Simon that day?
The lesson for
us all?
A relationship
with Jesus
is not to be
purchased
with a dinner
invitation,
but may be
celebrated
with costly
acts of true devotion
rooted in
God’s grace received.
--- rvc
*** D I S C L A I M E R ***
The Weekly Lessons are based on the lectionary
texts for the week – usually the Gospel lesson. They are not designed as a
formal commentary. Rather, they are the personal reflections and original
compositions of The Relay Online editor, Rev. Robin Van
Cleef, and offer a jumping off point, using the scriptures as triggers to
thought, imagination, and (we hope) empowerment. As you read them, let your own
imagination play, and let the Spirit speak to you, leading you where it will.
The Gospel Lessons reflected on this site may not be copied, reproduced or
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