Proper 6 / Pentecost 4 / Ordinary Time 11
Devotional
Water From the Rock
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle C
Object:
I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.
-- Luke 7:44b
The whole theme of this story centers on our understanding of the extent of God's forgiveness. It begins with the Pharisee's treatment of Jesus. To invite a guest to your house and then not to offer him water to bathe his dusty feet was to deliberately demean your guest. It would be somewhat like inviting a guest today but not offering to take his coat or not offering him a chair. The home was more public at the time of this story, so everyone would have seen the insult delivered and watched for Jesus' response. Was the Pharisee deliberately testing him to see if all the forgiveness he was proclaiming would be consistent with Jesus' own response to an insult?
Apparently Jesus chose not to react to this insult and was engaged in the table conversation. Then this woman, who had the reputation of being a sinner in the community, came in and stood behind Jesus and began to bathe his feet with her tears, dry them with her hair, and anoint them with an ointment that she had brought with her. It was clear that she wanted to lavish attention on Jesus and was willing to do it from the position of a servant. To wash the feet, seen as an ugly part of the body, was the task of a slave. The Pharisee, who had invited Jesus, and insulted him by refusing to offer water or oil for his comfort, judged Jesus as being unworthy because he was so accepting of the woman's attention.
The whole scenario raises the question of why we are so afraid of forgiveness. Jesus was choosing to demonstrate love for this woman whose past behavior was judged to be unacceptable. Her present behavior toward Jesus was being judged on the basis of her unacceptable past behavior. It made a difference to the Pharisee whether the affection being lavished on Jesus was from an upright person or a prostitute. Jesus chose to see her behavior as a sign of her gratitude for being forgiven. What would it mean for the Pharisee if he acknowledged that God had forgiven her? Would it not mean that he, too, would have to accept her and respond to her actions in a different manner?
Imagine a clearly identified prostitute and an equally clearly identifiable upstanding citizen entered your sanctuary to worship God on the same day. Who would you think was most accepting of God's forgiveness and how would that affect how you responded to each?
-- Luke 7:44b
The whole theme of this story centers on our understanding of the extent of God's forgiveness. It begins with the Pharisee's treatment of Jesus. To invite a guest to your house and then not to offer him water to bathe his dusty feet was to deliberately demean your guest. It would be somewhat like inviting a guest today but not offering to take his coat or not offering him a chair. The home was more public at the time of this story, so everyone would have seen the insult delivered and watched for Jesus' response. Was the Pharisee deliberately testing him to see if all the forgiveness he was proclaiming would be consistent with Jesus' own response to an insult?
Apparently Jesus chose not to react to this insult and was engaged in the table conversation. Then this woman, who had the reputation of being a sinner in the community, came in and stood behind Jesus and began to bathe his feet with her tears, dry them with her hair, and anoint them with an ointment that she had brought with her. It was clear that she wanted to lavish attention on Jesus and was willing to do it from the position of a servant. To wash the feet, seen as an ugly part of the body, was the task of a slave. The Pharisee, who had invited Jesus, and insulted him by refusing to offer water or oil for his comfort, judged Jesus as being unworthy because he was so accepting of the woman's attention.
The whole scenario raises the question of why we are so afraid of forgiveness. Jesus was choosing to demonstrate love for this woman whose past behavior was judged to be unacceptable. Her present behavior toward Jesus was being judged on the basis of her unacceptable past behavior. It made a difference to the Pharisee whether the affection being lavished on Jesus was from an upright person or a prostitute. Jesus chose to see her behavior as a sign of her gratitude for being forgiven. What would it mean for the Pharisee if he acknowledged that God had forgiven her? Would it not mean that he, too, would have to accept her and respond to her actions in a different manner?
Imagine a clearly identified prostitute and an equally clearly identifiable upstanding citizen entered your sanctuary to worship God on the same day. Who would you think was most accepting of God's forgiveness and how would that affect how you responded to each?
