Sermon for the Third Sunday after Pentecost
June 17, 2007
2 Samuel 11:26-12:10; 12:13-15
Psalm 32
Galatians 2:15-21
Luke 7:36-8:3
Proper 6
Year C
I.N.I. (In the name of Jesus)
The extravagance of the unnamed woman who was known to be a sinner in the Gospel today is contrasted with the failure of Simon the Pharisee, despite his moral rectitude, to exhibit a modicum of hospitality toward Jesus.
Too many have dismissed the gifts that women have to offer, at their own peril.
Too many have blamed Bathsheba for drawing David’s attention to herself, “served her right,” to their own detriment.
Not enough have been caught up in the overwhelming generosity that comes out of love and the sense of welcome that flows from God’s own extravagance.
Last summer in late June and throughout July, Jihan, our adopted Palestinian grandmother, welcomed Kari and me into her home in Jerusalem, just across the street from the Tantur Ecumenical Institute where we studied. We would always be greeted with a kiss on each cheek. We would always be invited to sit and visit. We would always be offered fresh fruit, or cookies, or pastry. We would always be offered coffee, German or Arabic. German was strong, and brewed like I do in a drip pot. Arabic was also strong, flavored with ground cardamom, and brewed by pouring boiling water directly over the grounds with a bit of sugar added in a small kettle, then once the grounds settle are poured into demitasse or espresso cups.
One day, we made the mistake of not understanding a trapping of Middle Eastern hospitality. Jihan served us Arabic coffee on a wooden tray inlaid with pottery tiles, the center tile representing the loaves and fishes’ mosaic from the German Benedictine monastery on the Sea of Galilee that Kari and I (and Deirdra Schmidt) find to be remarkably stunning. So I said to Jihan, “I just love that tray. It’s really pretty.” I had fallen into the trap. Jihan said, “Here, you can have it. It’s yours.” Both Kari and I protested. Jihan made us feel like it would be an honor for her to give it to us, and that she had ready access to more like it. We were overwhelmed by her extravagance. And we made sure not to complement anything that might be offered for us to take home with us again!
At Holden Village, the remote former copper mining community nestled in the Cascade Mountains in Washington State, the next place our whole family trekked to last summer, we had to take an hour and half boat ride on Lake Chelan to simply get to the boat launch, where school busses from Holden wait for their guests. Once in the busses, we had to travel eighteen miles up on switchback roads, taking about 45 minutes to get to the village. Upon coming within sight of Holden, just about everyone who is in the village gathers around the stopping point and waves hello. A group of staff and volunteers come up with rhythms on percussion instruments and bang away in greeting, while others clap. After all that we went through just to get there, and after our five weeks in the Holy Land, we were overwhelmed by this extravagant welcome at a camp. And we made sure to join in the welcoming crew as much as we could for other newcomers to Holden!
In the story of Jesus’ eating at the home of a Pharisee, the host blew it. The one whom Jesus calls Simon is in a place of privilege, where the comforts of food are readily available. As a Pharisee, his stature is elevated with his reputation for biblical study and interpretation, and high moral standards. And yet, he does nothing remarkable to welcome Jesus. He may even have set him up and watched the woman who was a known sinner as she wheedled her way into the party and gave Jesus the V.I.P. treatment. Surely Jesus would have dismissed her! Surely Jesus would have singled her out as unworthy of the kingdom of God! Surely Jesus would not want anyone to know that he, a Pharisee-type himself, had any association with her, a woman of ill-repute!
Yet by Jesus’ reception to her, and his honoring her hospitality, the woman who lavished on Jesus is elevated in stature above Simon’s. She was forgiven because she loved, or she loved because she was forgiven.
How many are yearning for a connection with one who can receive us for who we are? How many feel they could never belong in church? How many think that church is only for those who know and believe certain things, or who behave certain ways?
Do you believe that the church welcomes sinners? If you do, then how do we enact that welcome? How do we say by our rituals, our actions, our words, and our ministry, that “if you are a sinner, then you are in good company here!?”
The ways of welcome and reconciliation are purposeful, on-going work. They are not neat and tidy, dress tie and cookie-cut out kind of behavior. They involve intentional and barrier-breaking hospitality. They involve a measure of forgiveness. They acknowledge differences in the diverse humanity that makes up our world, differences of opinion, differences of understanding sexuality, differences in gauging the effectiveness of war, differences in how to read and interpret the Bible.
Jesus makes no distinctions about whom he invites to follow him. To fishermen and tax collectors, the rich and the poor, able-bodied and differently able, men and women, children and adults, he offers an invitation and models reconciliation.
There’s just one catch: there is no catch!
The Christian life is in a shared community with those who seek to be in Christ Jesus. This community models itself after a suffering and crucified Messiah, who bore the weight of human greed and power over others.
In our own experience of community, celebrated each Sunday, we have great opportunity to model welcome and forgiveness.
When someone comes into our home, or place of work, or congregation, how can we share God’s overwhelming extravagance?
Remember Jihan, our adopted Palestinian grandmother, who said “Here you can have it. It’s yours.”
Remember Holden, who went out of their way to greet newcomers.
May our experience of God’s extravagant welcome spill out to others who are sent our way.
The gifts of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God!
I.N.I.
The Rev. Timothy J. Keyl, Pastor
Christ the King Lutheran Church
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