February 19, 2017 – Seventh Sunday After Epiphany
Luke 7:36-50 Woman weeps at Jesus’ feet and is forgiven
Dinner, Interrupted
This is one of those few times when Jesus goes to the halls of power. He’s invited to dinner with a Pharisee, and he goes. And while he’s there, dinner is interrupted. A woman, a sinner, (not that that is much of a distinguishing mark) comes in, weeping, and anoints Jesus’ feet. And Simon, the Pharisee, is pretty sure that if Jesus was a prophet, he’d know who the woman was, he’d know what kind of woman she was, and he wouldn’t let her touch him.
So Jesus tells Simon a story, a parable. That story ends with Jesus calling Simon on his lack of hospitality and the contrast between his greeting from the host, the host with status and standing, power and privilege, and his greeting from “that” kind of woman, the kind of woman who barges in and interrupts a dinner.
How important does it have to be to interrupt dinner? How much do you have to risk to do this? Do we understand how desperate other people might be to see Jesus? Have we been this desperate?
#515 – I Come with Joy to Meet My Lord
#201 – A Prophet Woman Broke a Jar
#770 – I’m Gonna Eat at the Welcome Table
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