Lectionary Reading - Luke 7:36-8:3 (NRSV)
One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment.
Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him--that she is a sinner." Jesus spoke up and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Teacher," he replied, "Speak." "A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt." And Jesus said to him, "You have judged rightly."
Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? 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. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." Then he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.
"Deliberate Acts of Inclusion"
In 2004, I had the privilege of attending a day-long seminar at the First United Methodist Church in Vancouver, Washington, where I live. The presenter that day was Patricia O’Connell Killen, professor of religion at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. Patricia spent the day taking us through research findings presented in her then released book, Pacific Northwest: The None Zone. Patricia’s book represented an ongoing project known as the “Religion by Region Series” by Andrew Walsh and Mark Silk. Silk is professor of religion and founding director of the Leonard E. Greenberg Center for the Study of Religion in Public Life at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.
Several things from the seminar and the “None Zone” made quite an impact on me that day. First, the most frequently claimed religious status among Pacific Northwesterners (Alaska, Oregon, and Washington residents) is “None”. Secondly, there has never been a dominant religious denomination in our region, therefore people of faith in the Pacific Northwest are either in a position of competing or learning to cooperate with each other to address the region’s pressing economic, environmental, and social issues.” Third, the publishers note that, “One cannot understand this complex region without understanding the fluid religious commitments of its inhabitants” – meaning those commitments wax and wane or change quite frequently. Lastly, Patricia shared her thoughts about the study’s implication which I thought were the poignant thing I heard all day. She said that if faith communities in the Pacific Northwest hope to survive into the future, let alone thrive, they must become respectful of diversity in all its forms (cultural, religious, spiritual) and focus on helping people to find healing for their lives and obtaining the skills they need for living in these difficult times. As I write this week’s blog posting, I think how much harder the times have become since 2004. To put it plainly, life has simply become hardship for a great many people.
For me, healing and generosity and magnanimity of spirit are what we faith communities must raise up in ourselves if people are going to make it through these hard times, let alone help them find peace for their lives and the lives of loved ones and friends – not to mention helping them develop the skills needing for living and coping in what are the worst times since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Some churches will ignore these realities and continue to their peril the mode of being a weekly social club gathering. Other faith communities will come to realize that church as we know it is passing away and a new creation is forming. The coming transformation is captured so well in this week’s lectionary scripture when one compares and contrasts the characteristics and rigidity of Simon the Pharisee with the magnanimity of Jesus. Jesus accepted the woman’s contriteness, respected her sorrow over her past, and forgave her sin simply because of her faith that a meaningful life path could yet lie ahead – a path that had come to her emotional and spiritual understanding because of Jesus’ courageous teachings. As a friend of mine said, “Jesus set her apart as an example. It was deliberate act of inclusion demonstrating what it means to accept a person for whom they are.” We must do nothing less.
Sitting at lunch this week with judicatory heads of different denominations, I commented that I thought church as we know it is passing away. Most nodded in agreement and some commented on the heartache of being the administrative officer trying to serve their judicatories during such times while trying to come to grips with the phenomenal ambiguity of what “church” is yet to become. As one individual put it, “People want to know what you believe and what your faith tradition is about and they want your affirmations about it. Do not expect things of them however or attempt to control them for if you do, they will quickly part company from you.”
I think if we faith communities are going to develop relationships with our non-affiliated non-churched friends that go the distance and last a lifetime, we’re going to have to tap into a generosity and non-agenda way of being full of random countless “acts of inclusion” unlike anything we’ve ever seen. At first, the experience may be a whole lot of feeling like Simon as he watched Jesus’ feet being washed with a sinner’s tears. But here are a few things I sense we’ll need to be open to. First off, our non-affiliated non-churched friends will want to see that we walk our talk when it comes to peace and justice and doing right by people. Secondly, they will be very hands-on in their individually unique way for what they seen as the contribution they want to make to the mission of God’s Peaceable Kingdom here on Earth. Third, they will expect to be fully in control of what they do to help others in that regard. Fourth, they will want to see that people directly benefit from the charitable efforts they provide. Lastly, for a good many of our non-affiliated non-churched friends, one single engagement in their chosen form of charitable endeavor will probably mean more to them than a year of Sundays sitting in a pew; particularly if our “act of inclusion” is being right alongside them in the helping and healing they seek to do. As one of the judicatory officials put it, “It’s then when we can do theology together.”
A conversation earlier this week enlarged my vision regarding the above. The person I spoke with had quit attending church long ago. She then told me what “mission” had become for her. She said that she and her husband had downsized from their 3,000 square foot home a few years ago. They had downsized to a 2,000 square foot home but increased their land area to two acres. They did so in order to have as many raised garden beds as possible and become Master Gardeners. Their passion is donating one third of their produce to the Oregon Food Bank each year. Last year, the couple donated fifteen hundred pounds of produce. The other two thirds went to supporting family and friends and themselves. The woman said, “That’s my mission Brad.”
I marveled as I began to understand her passion and generosity. Nothing had been hoarded. No judgments had been made about who should or shouldn’t get food. It simply went to those in need. By this couple’s example, I’m left in the emotional and spiritual space of Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna who felt inspired and then supported Jesus and his mission out of their resources. So I think I would like to get to know this woman and her husband better simply for the inspiration, healing, empowerment, and therefore peace they’ve provided me.
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