Pentecost 3

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Lectionary 11

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Pastor Macholz

INTRODUCTION

Confession and forgiveness frequently serve as a doorway to worship. We come into God's presence not because we earn it, but purely as an act of grace. Today's readings introduce us to some of the world's great sinners, and we take our place among them, hungry to taste the wonderful love of God.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

O God, throughout the ages you judge your people with mercy, and you inspire us to speak your truth. By your Spirit, anoint us for lives of faith and service, and bring all people into your forgiveness, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

First Reading 2 Samuel 11:26—12:10; 12:13–15

God sends the prophet Nathan to rebuke David the king for his abuse of power in deceiving and killing Uriah and taking Uriah's wife.

Chapter 11

26When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him. 27When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD, Chapter 12

And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2The rich man had very many flocks and herds; 3but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. 4Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him." 5Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; 6he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity."

7Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul; 8I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more. 9Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, for you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. 13David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan said to David, "Now the LORD has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child that is born to you shall die." 15Then Nathan went to his house. The LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it became very ill.

Psalm 32

1Happy are they whose transgressions | are forgiven,

and whose sin is | put away!

2Happy are they to whom the LORD im- | putes no guilt,

and in whose spirit there | is no guile!

3While I held my tongue, my bones with- | ered away,

because of my groaning | all day long.

4For your hand was heavy upon me | day and night;

my moisture was dried up as in the | heat of summer.

5Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and did not con- | ceal my guilt.

I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD." Then you forgave me the guilt | of my sin.

6Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in | time of trouble;

when the great waters overflow, they | shall not reach them.

7You are my hiding-place; you preserve | me from trouble;

you surround me with shouts | of deliverance.

8"I will instruct you and teach you in the way that | you should go;

I will guide you | with my eye.

9Do not be like horse or mule, which have no | understanding;

who must be fitted with bit and bridle, or else they will | not stay near you."

10Great are the tribulations | of the wicked;

but mercy embraces those who trust | in the LORD.

11Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice | in the LORD;

shout for joy, all who are | true of heart.

Second Reading Galatians 2:15–21

Paul explores the dynamics of grace. We are made right with God through Jesus and are crucified with Christ. We trade the old life of sin for a new life with God.

15We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. 17But if, in our effort to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have been found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18But if I build up again the very things that I once tore down, then I demonstrate that I am a transgressor. 19For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; 20and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

Gospel Luke 7:36—8:3

A forgiven sinner expresses great love for Jesus. This humble act reveals what is lacking in the self-righteous who feel no need to be forgiven.

Chapter 7

36One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. 37And 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. 38She 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. 39Now 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." 40Jesus spoke up and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Teacher," he replied, "speak." 41A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?" 43Simon answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt." And Jesus said to him, "You have judged rightly." 44Then 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. 45You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47Therefore, 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." 48Then he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" 50And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Chapter 8

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, 2as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.

Reflection

It is so easy to see the sins of others, isn’t it? At least it is for me. I can look at how others live their lives, what they say and who they are in relationship with and make snap judgments as to rightness or wrongness of each. It is quite easy to compare myself to others, to think of the good that I do and try to do and then, line it up against others and see their faults, shortcomings and sins. I, after all, try to do my best and love God. I understand the realities of the journey of faith and many of its complexities and when I see others living outside of those bounds it is so, so easy to point the proverbial finger and find them in the wrong.

Yet the story of Nathan and David catches me up short. David was furious at the interloper who moved in and took the poor man’s lamb and without second thought David condemned him and sentenced him to death. He did it, that is, until Nathan looked him square in the eye and said “You are the man!” It wasn’t said with admiration…

I only need look in the mirror to know the reality of my sinfulness and shortcomings. Sure, I can count my successes and best attempts at following a holy path but lost in that process are all the failures, all the name calling and all the looking down on others that occurs from time to time. Then I am pulled up short and made to see the realities of my existence. I think we all find ourselves there from time to time. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that God sees us for what we are and then loves us as he looks at us through the eyes of Jesus’ death and resurrection and the forgiveness which is ours through his sacrifice. That doesn’t mean I can go out and start all over again but it does mean I’m forgiven. And…it suggests strongly a change of course and attitude in life toward others and ultimately toward God. God’s love is inclusive of all people, none are excluded, not even me. Can I be less toward others?

Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. He sets the example and way and even when we fail stands ready to forgive. May I come to see all people through those holy and forgiving eyes.

LET US PRAY FOR

Clarity of inward vision

To see others through the eyes of God

For families mourning the loss of loved ones

For those who serve in the armed forces

For our enemies

For hearts of forgiveness

QUOTE

There is so much bad in the best of us and so much good in the worst of us that it doesn't behoove any of us to talk about the rest of us. -- Unknown.

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians, 4:31-4:32.