This morning's Scripture lesson describes a common reoccurring Biblical theme of sin and forgiveness. Sound kind of familiar? We sin, God forgives. But the characters of this story provide us with a special opportunity to see what real forgiveness is all about.
Our story takes us to the home of a well-respected and popular Pharisee by the name of Simon. It seems that Simon was giving a party and invited the usual cast of characters. However, one of the invited guests of the party wasn't that usual. That guest was Jesus.
Imagine this scene with me if you will. Simon is in his home overseeing the preparations for the banquet that is about to take place. Cushions are placed on the floor around a low table where the guests would recline in comfort and enjoy a meal of the finest foods. Some of the best wines that the local vineyards produced have been purchased and sit in stone jars waiting to be poured into the cups of notable scribes, popular Pharisees and other local dignitaries. The table is set with the finest pottery available. Simon walks around the room looking to make sure everything is just right before his guests arrive.
Soon the room will be full of the guests Simon had invited. They would all be in the center courtyard of the house. It was customary in those days for local people, or uninvited guests to gather at one of these events in the outer area of this courtyard and listen to the discussion and debate of learned individuals.
Then, just as planned the guests begin to enter into Simon's home. Simon greets each guest with a customary embrace and kiss. The servants' standby, ready with fresh water and towel to wash the feet of each guest before anointing them with sweet smelling ointments. All of these things were customary expressions of hospitality.
Just as everyone is settled, Jesus enters the room. Simon had invited Jesus during the week almost on a dare. Simon wondered if Jesus would have the nerve to show up to a banquet where so many people would be who opposed him. Jesus did show up and now Simon could have his fun.
The banquet comes to a halt and everyone's eyes are on Jesus as he walks across the room and takes a seat at the table. Simon does not greet Jesus with a customary kiss. He does not offer to have his feet washed or sweet smelling oil poured on him. He offers Jesus none of the common courtesies that his other guests had received.
As soon as Jesus is settled at the table and the party gets under way again, a "woman of the street" enters the room. She was among the uninvited guests sitting in the outer room observing the events of the banquet. The room full of men are aghast that this woman has come in among them, that such a sinner should be in their presence. They are so shocked at her appearance to this banquet that they are speechless. Everything in the room comes to a standstill. The music stops playing. The servants stop serving the guests. All conversation ceases. You can hear a pin drop in the room.
All eyes are upon this woman as she walks across the room towards Jesus. She begins to weep at the sight of Jesus. She is overwhelmed by his mere physical presence. She begins to wash his feet with her tears. She wipes them with her hair. She kisses Jesus' feet. She takes an alabaster jar of sweet smelling oil that is tied around her neck, breaks it open and pours it on his feet.
Finally, Simon breaks the silence. He stands up, points to Jesus and says, "If this man is the prophet he says he is, he would know that this woman who is touching him is a sinner." The guests ready themselves for the intellectual game of volleyball that is about to begin. But Jesus, without missing a beat turns to Simon and says, "Simon, I have something to tell you. Two men owed a lender money. One owed him $100, and the other $1000. Neither could repay the debt so the lender forgave both of them." Now comes the snare. Jesus asks, "Simon, tell me, which one of them will love him more ?" Simon begins to see the point. He answers Jesus almost sarcastically, "Well, I suppose the one whom he forgave more."
Here's where we get the teaching in this story. Jesus draws a parallel between the woman (who had a great deal of sin) and the man who owed the most money. He also compares Simon (who thought his sin was less) to the man who owed $100. "Where little has been forgiven, little love is shown. Where much has been forgiven, much love is shown."
Jesus revealed to Simon and others at the banquet that the woman in their midst indeed had many sins, but all of her sins had been forgiven. The woman's response to her great forgiveness was the outpouring love she showed Jesus by weeping at his feet, washing his feet with her tears and anointing him with expensive oil, all the things that Simon failed to do. Her sins, though they were many, were forgiven.
We come here today with the opportunity to receive the gift of forgiveness. Each time we approach the throne of God seeking forgiveness, we receive that special gift of forgiveness. That's what's free here today ~ forgiveness. That is such a difficult concept for so many of us to grasp. Forgiveness is a gift that is freely given. It's so basic that we forget it. In our complex lives, we get entangled with so many of lives complexities that we often drift away and forget some of the basics of Biblical teaching. We forget that because Jesus gave his life on the cross for us, we are forgiven. Throughout the Bible we encounter a God who keeps on forgiving us and loving us in the face of all our rejection and all of our disobedience. It's so easy to forget the basics.
Last week I was in Dallas and had the opportunity to hear Lou Holtz, the famous football coach of Notre Dame talk. He addressed us at a luncheon and spoke about the basics of life. He told us how he used the basics to make the Notre Dame football team so successful. He told us a funny story about getting away from the basics and what a negative affect it can have.
There was a man who lived alone and wanted company so he went into a pet store looking for a pet bird. The owner of the pet store showed him several canaries. Then he showed him a talking bird. The talking bird was $600, a lot more than the man wanted to pay, but the owner talked him into buying the bird for company.
A few days later the man came back into the pet store complaining that the bird hadn't spoken a word. The owner said. "Well, just perch him up on his swing and he'll start talking." The man said, "What swing ?" "You didn't buy a swing for the bird ?" "No. How much is a swing ?" asked the man. "$12.95." replied the owner of the pet store. So the man brought the swing and went home. A few days later the man comes in again complaining that the bird still isn't talking. The owner of the pet store said, "Just have the bird walk up the ladder to the swing and he'll start talking." "What ladder?", asked the man. "You don't have a ladder for the bird cage?" asked the owner. "No ! I don't have a ladder. How much is a ladder ?" "$13.95." So the man brought the ladder and went home.
A few days later the man came into the pet store, yet again complaining that the bird still isn't talking. "Just have the bird play with the ball before he walks up the ladder to swing on the swing and then he'll start talking. You do have a ball in the cage with the bird don't you ?" Well, you get the picture. Off goes the man with a ball for $10.95. Finally the man comes into the pet store the next day. He said to the owner, "The bird died, but he did finally talk." "Well, what did he say?" asked the owner of the pet shop. "Just before he died he said, "Didn't he sell you any bird seed ?" Yes, sometimes we forget the basics.
This morning Andrew and Chris received the sacrament of baptism. Through their baptism they have taken on Christ in their lives. Julie, Vicki, Chris, and Erica came forward this morning and were confirmed. Their confirmation is an affirmation of their desire to walk with Christ. Those who came forward this morning and were received as members of our church also professed their faith and desire to accept what Christ has to offer each and every one of us ~ forgiveness for our sins.
The parable we've looked at this morning begs us to ask ourselves some questions. Who do we identify with ~ Simon, or the woman whose sin was great ? Are we like Simon the Pharisee ? Do we invite Jesus into our lives like Simon invited him into his home, but do not honor him ? Are we like Simon ~ self-righteous, looking down upon others and thinking we don't have anywhere near the greatness of sin that others have. Or, do we identify with the woman of this story. By identifying with the woman, we say something about our spiritual journey. We admit that there are chapters in our lives that include failure and redemption, sin and repentance, guilt and God's grace. We say that we know what it means to experience the wonderful blessing of God's forgiveness. We say that we carry around with us an alabaster jar filled with grace waiting to share with others so they may know what it's like to experience God's love, God's grace and the fullness of God's forgiveness.
Remember that the woman in this morning's story never spoke a word. She didn't have to. Her actions were greater than any words ever spoken. Let us go forth this morning ready and willing to crack open our alabaster jar that is filled with the actions of love, grace and forgiveness so others may experience what we have so freely received. AMEN.
