Luke 7: (NIV)
36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[c] and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? (emphasis mine)I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
This is one of my favorite passages in the New Testament. I am sure part of the reason is that it still has so much to say to us today; in fact, in our divided world, in our divided America, it might be more fitting than ever.
We are surrounded by people we do not see every day. We often times see “us” but we often times miss seeing “them.” (Even though Jesus did away with these categories, we far too often use them today). As I sit here and write this I am struck by a fact that previously had been off my radar. Both sides, the “us” and the “them” are guilty of not seeing the created image of God in every one.
Some are easy. Russians not seeing Ukrainians; Ukrainians not seeing Russians. Palestinians not seeing Israelis; Israelis not seeing Palestinians. Republicans not seeing Democrats; Democrats not seeing Republicans. And so on and so forth. Many times these groups are easy to pick on.
But what about us? What about those who are trying to fight the good fight? What about those trying to be Jesus in our world?
For us the danger is seeing the cause but not seeing the person. We get involved with major political and national issues without seeing the actual individuals we “think” we are fighting for. For example, maybe you fight for abortion rights or maybe you fight to end abortion; but are either of you in relationship with the potential young mother who is contemplating the hardest decision of her life? Picketing and protesting are far easier than the messy work of direct relationships and they afford us a simple way to feel good about ourselves while allowing ourselves to think we are making a difference.
Jesus didn’t protest Rome in hopes of securing more rights for their women; He did however embrace every opportunity to share love with each individual female He encountered, lifting them up simply by being present.
Is protesting wrong? Of course not, and sometimes it is called for. However, if it takes the place of loving the individuals God puts in our path, then we are doing it wrong. So I ask myself, I ask you: Do you see her?
“I am sorry I can say nothing more to console you, for love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared with love in dreams. Love in dreams is greedy for immediate action, rapidly performed and in the sight of all. Men will even give their lives if only the ordeal does not last long but is soon over, with all looking on and applauding as though on stage. But active love is labor and fortitude, and for some people too, perhaps, a complete science.”
― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov
David, you are spot on!
One thing about being involved with Circles of Allen County is that you get a look "behind the scenes" of people who are in poverty. You learn about the barriers that are keeping many folks in poverty. We as a society certainly do not make it easy for those folks. The Monday evening program begins with a meal and then sharing occurs when people can tell what is new and good in their life so that all can celebrate with them. They are "seen" and listened to which is often a first for many of them.
People who visit Inasmuch Ministries are seen. Director Mary Ann Mings hears so many stories from the folks who…