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...

Who Are You Fooling?

~~~ Ezekiel 18: 21-28 ~~~ Psalm 130 ~~~ Matt. 5: 20-16 ~~~

"...unless your righteousness surpasses that of scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven."

The scribes and Pharisees were the scholars the professional enforcers of the laws. The Pharisees knew scripture extremely well, prayed, tithed. They were the self righteous of their time. They were more interested in the letter of the law. They were not necessarily following God with their heart. They were just going through the motions. Jesus is saying don't try to pretend you are holy by outward appearances. It does not work with me, you are only fooling yourself.

We live in a cultural environment where you are constantly bring scrutinized. Are you doing this or that 'right'. In our city there has been much publicity and controversy over the red light cameras. Did you really run the red light? Were you actually the driver?

In our public schools the majority of the time teachers are looking for what is incorrect on the students work. The student's work gets covered with red marks, even inte margins. I have met individuals who quit trying because they know someone will always be there to find fault. Improvment is more than just finding fault. The desire to improve must also be part of the equation.

There is a well known scripture about seeing the plank and the splinter. I am sure you know the one I am referring  to here. Some think that righteousness means to be in the crow's nest overseeing what other's are doing; in order to correct and set them on the right path.

Jesus is saying all that really matters is your relationship with me. He says I can overlook your imperfections on one condition...is your heart in the right place. Jesus says I have infinite mercy. Jesus says I understand when you fall. He had the physical experience of carrying the cross, not just any cross, but our cross heavily laden with our sins. The weight and burden so great that he fell three times.

As I heard in the homily this morning...Jesus extends his mercy to us, which is bigger than anything we could possibly imagine.

We do not need the Pharisees, but yet they still do inhabit our society today.

Jesus has given us the tools we need to live a life blessed with mercy.
'Your sins are forgiven, now go in peace and sin no more.'

That sentence is often heard at the end of reconciliation.

We may not see or feel God's mercy in our life, but it is there. It is what gives us hope for an eternity with God in heaven. Without his mercy we would be lost in every sense of the word, but especially spiritually.

In this kaleidoscope image has captured God's loving eyes as he looks down on us  extending his mercy. 

Allow God to overshadow you with his mercy.