Outside the Boundaries

~~~ 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 ~~~ Psalm 118 ~~~ Luke 7:36-50 ~~~

The gift of anointing...the gift of debt forgiveness.

The gift of humility...the gift of power...

Jesus accepted the invitation to dine in the home of a Pharisee.
Jesus made the effort to draw his greatest critics into
opening their minds and hearts.

We do not know the exact circumstances but a 'sinful' woman
came to Jesus while he was reclining at table with the Pharisee.
She carried with her an alabaster flask of ointment.
The Pharisee is quick to pass judgment not only on the woman
but also on Jesus for not knowing what a sinful life this woman led.

For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received:
that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures;
that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day 
in accordance with the Scriptures...

This sinful woman saw something in Jesus
 that the Pharisee never saw.
Do you have the courage to go out of your comfort zone for God?
Are your actions always within the acceptable range?
This woman acted in spite of the possible consequences.
Would you consider that too risky?

But by the grace of God I am what I am...

By the grace of God we can go beyond...we can live on the edge.

Do not ever become satisfied with your spiritual progress.
There is always better.
There is always deeper holiness.

There is always a more sustaining joy.
There is always numerous ways to love.
There is always reason to forgive.

 ...the grace of God that is with me.

All of the above are possible with this hidden
 yet present force called grace.

The gift of God's grace was present in the sinful woman
who knelt and wept at the feet of Jesus.

Grace was a living force at work in the life of Saint Paul.
Grace is within you too.
You cannot feel grace or hear it or or see it,
but the truth remains grace is real.

Blessed to have God's grace.
Blessed to know it will take me and support me
outside the boundaries of my box.
~~~Peace~~~

A Tale of Two Women

~~~ 2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13 ~~~ Psalm 32 ~~~ Galatians 2:16, 19-21 ~~~ Luke 7:36—8:3 ~~~

 

David lusted after Uriah's wife, Bathsheba.

He became so intent on possessing her for his own

that he set up the death of her husband.

 

The sins of David were serious, but God never hesitated to forgive him.

God waited patiently until David came to an understanding

of the gravity of his sins.

 

Then David said to Nathan,
“I have sinned against the LORD.”
Nathan answered David:
“The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin:
you shall not die.”

 

Bathsheba was taken in the sin of adultery by her murderous King.

As a woman she had to obey when summoned by David.

Of course this does not excuse her part in their sin of adultery.

 

 

I think we are given these two serious sins, murder and adultery,

 in the same reading today so that we might better understand.

There is no sin, no matter how grave or serious,

 that God is not capable of forgiving. 

 

Paul says

...I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me...

 

The woman in today's gospel realized she was a sinful woman.

She came to pay homage to the one she believed to be the Messiah.

 

'...she stood behind him at his feet weeping...' 

 

 She did not want to interrupt his meal she just wanted to serve him.

She came in repentance for her sins.

She came bringing the finest ointment she had.

She did not leave her gift sealed in the jar.

She cracked it open revealing the fragrant ointment.

This was the fragrance of her remorse for hers sins.

Her tears fell upon the feet of Jesus.

She used her hair, symbolic of her feminine beauty, to wipe his feet.

These feet that had walked down the dusty dirty road to the house.

 

Her humility was greater than her concern for protocol.

 She proceeded to kiss his feet.

Whose feet would you kiss today?

Tiny baby feet are typically the feet I would most likely want to kiss.

 

I can only imagine this woman's joy when she heard these words form Jesus...

“Your sins are forgiven.”

 

“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” 

She came to Jesus because in her heart she believed

 he would accept her as she was...

a sinful woman. 

 

Bathsheba was ordered to appear before David.

They committed their sin together.

Two women one coming for forgiveness the other coming to commit sin.

 

God forgives all sin if we seek his forgiveness.

If we do not seek this forgiveness

how can we expect to be forgiven?

 

Two women one with beauty the other with tears.

God draws us into his presence

so that we will desire his forgiveness. 

Once forgiven we too can join Paul in proclaiming...

...I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me...