The Community Tending Jesus

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This week we returned to the remarkable story from Luke 7:36-50.  The "woman of the city, who (is) a sinner" is the example of embodied agape love; she is the caregiver, the one offering Jesus much-needed mercy.    As we noted last week, she offers Jesus hospitality in the Pharisee's house!

Jesus is the recipient.  This is wonderfully dis-locating for us, who are used to seeing Jesus as the care-giver, the bestower of mercy, the defining expression of embodied love. But here,
he is the Be-loved.  We realize that, in a community of Jesus like St. Andrew's, it is not only essential to "be loving;" it is essential that all of us have the experience of "being loved."  Perhaps that can be part of our mission statement!

This led to the acknowledgment that some of us have a very hard time receiving love and care, and are more comfortable offering it.  But receiving love, be-ing loved, is one with our salvation!

We were urged--in good humor--to think of Simon and the other guests as though they are the Consistory President and the Elders. That is both helpful and uncomfortable (Lee was a good sport!).  The Consistory invites Jesus to the meal, but on their terms.  They are very set in their ways, to which he is expected to adjust.   And judgement, rather than love, is the order of the day..  They can't even see the humanity of the woman; and they can only behold part of Jesus!

The beauty of the scene is breathtaking.  The woman in her love and Jesus in his receiving are stunningly unbound from restriction. It is a hopeful time for the leaders as well.  Jesus' parable, though uncomfortable, invites Simon and his friends to see with new eyes and to love with softened hearts. The gospel is always countercultural when embodied in the world--Praise God!

We were reminded also of the Syrophoenician woman (Mark 7:24-30), whose assertive faith and insistence on unboundaried love seemed to open Jesus' mind and the scope of his ministry beyond the traditional understandings.

The community that the woman and Jesus beckon us into more deeply is one that will be characterized by non-judgement (grace), listening, understanding, discernment.  It will be a com-unity without condemnation.  There will be gracious room for everyone's being, our voices, our stories, the integrity of our experiences.  The Pastor's PhD in Judgement will be transformed "on the Way."

There is risk, and cost.  During our worship service, we spoke the UCC Statement of Faith together, including these words:

 You call us into your church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, ot be your servants in the service of others, to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to to share in Christ's baptism and eat at his table, to join in the passion and victory.

Welcome ot the Laboratory of Agape Love.

Comments

  1. Scott HutchinsonNovember 2, 2018 at 7:15 AM

    Who do you identify with in the story? Perhaps more than one of the characters?

    ReplyDelete

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