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The
Gift of Forgiveness Today's Gospel lesson is an interesting one. It brings together three unlikely candidates into a room: a Pharisee named Simon; an unknown woman who comes into a home to wash Jesus' feet; and Jesus, as the mediator -- three unlikely candidates brought together for a purpose. We need to think for a moment about the invitation extended to Jesus by Simon the Pharisee to have a meal. Why would Simon invite Jesus? Here we have Simon, a member of the Pharisaic Community who is well-respected in Israel, someone who is highly educated, someone that people in Israel are accustomed to seeking out for spiritual guidance, someone who is supposed to be a pillar in the community. The Pharisees view Jesus as an itinerant preacher who is doing more harm than good to the fabric of Israel. He refuses to obey the laws of the land; he causes the people to rise up and move against the Romans and against the systems in place; and he refuses to obey the religious leaders of his day. So why would Simon, a Pharisee, whose reputation is on the line for having Jesus in his home in the first place--why would he invite him to dinner? There are several reasons why this gathering could have taken place. Perhaps the chief reason is that Simon wants to better understand Jesus' purpose in Israel. Simon may have been chosen by the Pharisaic Community to invite Jesus to his home to find out what he is about--see what kind of threat he poses to Israel. "Do it subtly, don't make it obvious that you are there to interrogate him and to question his ministry. Invite him for a meal, get him comfortable with his surroundings, invite a few more friends, and you all just pick his brain. See what he is about," the Pharisees may have said. But Jesus condemned the Pharisees. "They're no good; they lead the people astray; they don't obey God; they make the laws fit their own purposes," were some of Jesus’ comments in the Gospels. So why would Simon, who is a part of this group that Jesus publicly condemns, invite him into his home? We are also told in this story that a woman off the streets rushes in and begins to bathe Jesus' feet in oil. Believe it or not, that was not unusual. It was the custom of the well-to-do to leave their doors open during the day. You could go in the home and the owner of the house would give you food and/or money. But what is out of the ordinary is that Jesus is not accorded the proper respect as a visitor in someone's home. There were certain things that Simon, as a host, should have done for Jesus, but didn’t. He did not offer Jesus any water; he didn’t bathe Jesus' feet; and he didn’t give Jesus any oil for his skin. These were as common as a handshake in those days. Maybe there are others at the table to help Simon question Jesus. Simon is a bit stand-offish. He really doesn't engage Jesus. The only thing that he says is, "Now, look at him. If he was truly a prophet, he would have known who it is that is washing his feet. See, he is not a prophet." Right then and there Simon passes judgment on Jesus. Yet Jesus goes into a parable about death. He uses a concept and a teaching that works, whether you are first century or twentieth century. Jesus says,"There are two people who owe a great deal of money, but one owes a little bit less than the other. If the person who receives the debt absolves the debt, who stands to gain?" Simon responds, "The one for whom the greater debt was removed." Jesus says, "You have judged rightly. That is the reason this woman washed my feet. Her debt is forgiven because she understands the relationship that she has with God." The woman couldn't care less who is at the table in the home. Apparently, she doesn't even stop to acknowledge Simon. She goes straight to the source. She goes to Jesus, and she does everything to Jesus that Simon should have done. Simon is looking at this particular individual with the eyes of the world. He is passing judgment on both the woman and Jesus. He has decided to load the table with folks for proof, as witnesses. You all have seen this; y'all are witnesses to this. So, the first reason I think that Simon calls Jesus to dinner is just simply to unmask him. I think the other reason this all took place was the work of the Divine. We overlook the fact that there is a possibility that God brought these three individuals together for a particular reason. It's clear that Simon's understanding of forgiveness has very little to do with God's understanding of it. Jesus is the mediator between the ordinary sinner and Simon the Pharisee, who sees himself far removed from such a lifestyle. Jesus is bringing the two together to say, "There is no difference in your life and her life. The only difference is that she has come to recognize that true forgiveness comes from above and not from below." Simon as a Pharisee finds this difficult to understand. Jesus says to the woman--not to the guests, not to the host of the party--but he says to the woman who was looked upon with contempt, "You're the only one who gets any of this. Go, your faith has healed you." Of all those
gathered in Simon's home, the only person who walks out refreshed,
renewed, ready
to do battle
with the world, feeling affirmed, feeling strengthened, uplifted, feeling
that she has a new relationship with God, is the woman who came in
and
knelt at Jesus' feet. The third reason is more of a lesson for us today. It is that we should not overlook the gift of forgiveness in our own lives. Frederick Buechner in his book Wishful Thinking: A Seeker’s ABC, says this about forgiveness: "To accept forgiveness means to admit that you've done something unspeakable that needs to be forgiven, and thus both parties must swallow the same thing, their pride." This seems to explain what Jesus means when he says to God, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." Jesus is not saying that God's forgiveness is conditional upon our forgiving others. In the first place, forgiveness that is conditional is not really forgiveness at all -- just fair warning. And in the second place, our unforgiveness is among those things about us which we need to have God forgive us the most. What Jesus, apparently, is saying is that the pride which keeps us from forgiving is the same pride which keeps us from accepting forgiveness. When somebody you've wronged forgives you, you are spared the dull and self-diminishing throb of a guilty conscience. When you forgive somebody who has wronged you, you are spared the dismal corrosion of bitterness and wounded pride. For both parties, forgiveness means the freedom again to be at peace inside their own skins and to be glad in each other's presence. God calls us to seek forgiveness, not only with one another, but also forgiveness with God. If we are willing to rise above our pride, rise above keeping the views of this world and look to God as our source of inspiration and our source of empowerment, than we too can rush out into the streets and rejoice, because God has given us a new life.
Copyright 2001 Calvary Episcopal Church Gospel:
Luke 7:36-8:3
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