~~~ 1 Cor15: 1-11 ~~~ Psalm 118 ~~~ Luke 7:36-50 ~~~
"...But by the grace of God I am what I am,
and his grace to me has not been ineffective..."
and his grace to me has not been ineffective..."
Once again today we hear the beautiful lines from Paul's letter to the Corinthians.
What I love about Paul is his honesty and transparency with his followers.
He openly admits that he was once a person that was doing all he
could to fight against the new Christians.
In his transparency he acknowledges that it was only
through the grace of God
that his significant spiritual growth was made possible.
Through the goodness of God Paul grew in wisdom concerning the things of God.
God saw something in Paul that he could use to reach others.
God was right...of course...
Paul's spiritual influence continues to flourish today.
Paul accepted God's grace and let it be the catalyst for his future mission.
The gospel story today of the sinful woman
who weeps and anoints the feet of Jesus
is also about grace and transparency.
"...Now there was a sinful woman in the city
who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee.
Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment,
she stood behind him at his feet weeping
and began to bathe his feet with her tears.
Then she wiped them with her hair,
kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment..."
who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee.
Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment,
she stood behind him at his feet weeping
and began to bathe his feet with her tears.
Then she wiped them with her hair,
kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment..."
This woman, even though a well known sinner within her community,
humbly approaches Jesus.
She is in a lowly position at the feet of Jesus.
She is vulnerable wiping his feet with her hair.
She did not come in singing and dancing attepting to seduce Jesus.
Those actions might have been more acceptable
considering her reputation.
The Pharisee is also transparent; he does not try to hide
what he perceives as evidence contrary to what he believed.
"If this man were a prophet,
he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him,
that she is a sinner."
he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him,
that she is a sinner."
Well the truth be told; Jesus did know this woman was a sinner
but she was
attentive in caring for him.
The Pharisee had just gone about his customary greetings
with a visitor in his home.
This woman did so much more than anyone would have expected.
For it is through grace that we too can do more than is expected.
It is through grace that we are safe to be transparent.
If we have nothing to hide transparency should be the norm.
Something drew the woman to the feet of Jesus.
Something brought her to her knees in his presence.
Something caused her tears to greatly flow from her eyes.
Where would you cast yourself today in this story?
Are you the Pharisee who extended the invitation?
Are you the Pharisee who began to question the insight of Jesus?
Are you the Pharisee who was shocked but what he witnessed?
Are you the woman
who collects the finest perfumed oil?
Are you the woman
who weeps tears stored up inside from the past?
Are you the woman
who gladly falls to the floor in humility?
Are you the woman
who comes to wash the feet of the Master?
Are you so filled with the grace of God
that he could ask you to do anything for him?
Before God there is nothing but transparency.
He gives us enough grace to step away from our sins.
He gives us enough grace to go out and proclaim his word.
His grace truly is sufficieant for you to accomplish great things in his name.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
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