Thursday, September 17, 2020                     (today’s lectionary)
Unforced rhythm
You did not give me a kiss,
But this woman has not ceased kissing my feet since I entered your house.
What kind of man is this, who praises the woman breaking perfume on his feet and kissing them and wiping it all off with her tears?
Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
What sins? How does he know what she’s done? Who gave him the right to forgive what she has done to others in her life? Don’t those people she’s offended do that forgiving?
But David said to God, “Against You, You only, have I sinned.”
Can Jesus forgive her sins against God?
Jesus said, “Her many sins have been forgiven so she has shown great love.”
And he said to those who scorned them both, “The one to whom little is forgiven loves little.”
There was silence around the dinner table. What could anyone say to that? Of course it was true, but should they sin more so they could be forgiven more, so they could love with great love?
Well, yes, but they didn’t get there. They hooded their eyes and silenced each other. They asked nothing more, but inside they seethed, and felt taken advantage of, and unloved. Jesus knew that, but he could do nothing. Perhaps he would have called this rejection a “sin against the Holy Spirit.”
Come to me, all of you who labor. Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come. Make a getaway with me and you will recover your life!
Some of the Pharisees longed to follow Jesus. They knew truth when they heard it, they knew God when they saw God.
Through this you are being saved!
Hold fast to the words you have received.
By the grace of God we are what are.
In The Chosen Jesus does not just speak to Nicodemus in the park at night. He calls him. Jesus invites Nicodemus to come along. You could see the pain of choosing pulse in Nicodemus’ cheeks, his heart, his head, his heart pounding, his heart breaking.
Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting with you. Learn to live in freedom, learn to live light.
How could you say no? Come and find peace. What are you good at? What does God want? What does the world need? Just say yes.
Of course, Nicodemus said no. He remained a popular teacher, a valued husband and father, he spoke up for Jesus when he could. But at night, when everyone had gone to sleep and he could not, his insides spilled out and screamed the absence of the only man he’d ever met who carried him to the throne of God and loved him there. Nicodemus wept and wept until he finally fell asleep and dreamed. And in extremis, God did not abandon him.
Even now, I shall not die but live and declare the works of the Lord.
You ARE my God, and I give thanks to you,
O my God, O my God, O my God!
(1 Corinthians 15, Psalm 118, Matthew 11, Luke 7)
#
