"I Have Something to Say to You"

(Please read Luke 7:36 – 8:3 with all of your senses!)
Lectionary Scriptures OT 11-C

If ever there were Scriptures that needed to be read aloud and experienced with all senses, these Scriptures would be the ones! Don’t be embarrassed. Read the words with expression. Listen to the under-the-breath murmurs. Smell the aroma of food on the table and the fragrance of ointment from the jar. Feel the wetness of tears. See Jesus' feet being washed by tears and dried by hair. Pay particular attention to the body language. Feast on the Scriptures with all that is within you! Jesus is saying, “I have something to say to you.”

A Pharisee named Simon has invited friends and acquaintances for a meal. Surely there is a bit of pride to be seen on his face. After all, this man named Jesus, who was creating such a "buzz" in the area, has accepted his dinner invitation. Notice that Simon murmurs to himself at the sight of a woman, the uninvited, the sinner entering his home. The words that first leap off the page are the words of Jesus. “I have something to say to you". Surely Jesus has something to say to Simon ... and to this woman ... and to us. Jesus asks Simon a question and he answers it correctly, as any of us might have answered it. Perhaps he gives a sideways glance to his other guests when he does. Did I see smugness in Simon’s glance? Then Jesus turns the answer into words that a Pharisee doesn’t really want to hear, yet these are words that the woman needs to hear. Could she possibly have heard the word "forgiven"? Notice that after Simon answers Jesus' question, Jesus turns toward the woman, yet speaks to Simon. What body language! He speaks of all of the ways that Simon fails to show hospitality toward him and of the ways by which this woman, the "sinner", fills in the gaps for what Simon has neglected to do. Jesus’ feet are washed and dried not with water and cloth provided by the host but by tears and hair offered by the woman. The servant of the household brings no ointment for him, but the sinner in the room carries a jar of perfumed ointment solely for Jesus. Worship permeates the room.

Hear the quiet sobs. See the tears. There are many reasons for tears in this world -grief, joy, fear, pain and hope. Jesus mentions that this woman's sins (which were many) had been forgiven. Had Jesus already told her this, before she washed his feet with her tears and dried them with her hair? I wonder if her tears were the tears not of one whose face was still in the dirt of life, but the tears of one who had already heard the word "forgiven”. It seems that these were the tears of joy and hope and worship.

Jesus then has something else to say. “Your faith has saved you. Go in Peace." This is the “something” that the woman hears. The others hear words that tell them that things are no longer the same. It is not theirs to judge; it is Jesus’ to proclaim forgiveness. (Did I hear someone choke on their food at Simon’s table?).

Gracious God … You give us so much to think about. With words such as these, we can’t help but feast on your Word, feel the wet tears, hear Jesus speak to one then turn to look in another’s eyes, see hope make way for worship, even smell the aroma of forgiveness. Jesus is speaking to us, isn’t he? Forgive us when we are smug and proud; when we judge others and want little or no part of forgiveness for others. Give us the desire to welcome all to the Table. May we have the heart of Jesus so that we too might say to others, “I have something to say to you …” Amen

anna