Open Your Eyes!

Read: Luke 7: 36-47

As with so many of Jesus' parables, this parable involves multiple layers. Yet both of these layers speak a word to the Pharisees and those gathered for dinner at Simon's home. The first layer speaks to the extent to which forgiveness and love are experienced and shown. The obvious contrast drawn is between the woman and the religious leaders. The text doesn't tell us much about the woman, only that she was "a woman of the city". What does this mean? Nobody really knows. Luke's original readers might have heard this to say that she was a prostitute. If that's the case, she likely would have been told countless times what a dreadful sinner sinner she was. The religious leaders and Pharisees, on the other hand, would have, most likely, never had someone (except Jesus!) dare point out any of their sins. They were considered the most righteous and upright, by virtue of their societal standing. We could wonder if they thought themselves sinners at all. But that's just the point. The woman knew she was a sinner, and a pronouncement of forgiveness would have dramatically changed her own self-image and worth and her image and worth in the eyes of those around them. The Pharisees, on the other hand....well, let's just say that their own feelings of righteousness got in the way of experiencing the true depth and measure of God's grace and love. Turning that back to the church and people of the church....with whom do we most identify in the parable. Too often, the church and people of the church have been charged as being more like the Pharisees than the woman; full of self-righteousness and not realizing that we just as much in need of God's grace as those who are like the woman.

The second layer of the story, although not really included within the context of the parable, deals with recognizing that which we would rather ignore. Suffice it to say that Simon and his dinner guests completely ignored the woman who annointed Jesus. She was "below" them and their dignity did not allow for her existence to even be acknowledged. Yet Jesus demands their attention turn toward her, "see this woman". It is both a question and a demand. Jesus asks them if they see her, then demands that they see her. I wonder how often Jesus would like to do that with us. We are great at ignoring that which troubles us or we don't want to acknowledge. Yet Jesus calls us to acknowledge the existence of these people; sometimes, people are overshadowed by the lablel the carry: poor, homeless, addict, sinner(!), scoundral, etc. Yet Jesus questions us whether we see the people instead of the "issue", then demands that we see them. In seeing them, we are more able to recognize them as valued creations of God, worthy of the time and attention of God and, therefore, our time and attention. In seeing them, we open ourselves to more fully experience where God is working and what God is doing in this world.
Give me your eyes for just one second, Lord. Allow us to see our need for forgivness and embrace the love you have for each one of us. Allow us to see that which troubles us and look beyond the "issue" and see the person you love. We humbly ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.