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II Samuel 11:26-12:1, 13-15; Galatians 2:11-21; Luke 7:36-50
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, West Valley City, UT
The Revd Lyn Zill Briggs
Just who do you think you are, young lady?
Did you ever
hear that when you were growing up? Well, actually, you women in
the congregation might have heard it, the men probably didn't.
When I was 3 my response might have been, Well, I think I'm somebody
who can get into mommy's make-up and waste all her expensive perfume.
That's who I think I am.
Or when I was 16, Dad, Apparently
I think I am a person who thinks I can sneak into the house more
quietly at 2 am than I actually did.
It is a rhetorical question; not meant to illicit a response, of course. When someone asks you that, you know there is simply no good answer. Eventually, my parents stopped asking that question of me, out loud at least. As I matured it became my responsibility to ask it of myself on a regular basis, and to come up with a reasonable answer as well.
Who do you think you are? The characters in all three of our scripture lessons today are challenged to come up with authentic answers to that question. See if you find yourself in these characters and their stories.
King David apparently thought he was a person for whom the law of the land and God's law did not apply. He slept with someone else's wife, tried to blame the resulting pregnancy on her husband whom he then arranged to have killed in battle. A year later, perhaps thinking he'd gotten away with his bad behavior, he is approached by Nathan a prophet of God. The only way Nathan could get through to David's conscience was by making such unethical behavior sound like someone else's story. It's always easier to see when someone else has messed up, isn't it. David knew in his heart what was right. He needed Nathan to help him see that it was he himself that was wrong. David was a sinner and needed someone else to point out his sin, and his need for forgiveness. David recognized what a mess he'd made of so many lives, having been given new eyes with which to see his behavior. David needed a repentant heart.
Simon the Pharisee at whose home Jesus was eating thought he was a good person. He not only knew the law, he kept the law, and he was in a position of authority to ensure that everyone else kept the law as well.
Jesus had been invited to a dinner party at Simon's house—Jesus even ate with sinners had nice houses and high positions in the church! In 21st century America we're not used to having uninvited people in our homes but in the culture of Jesus day, when a rabbi was invited to a home, it was common for that teacher's followers to follow him right into the house. So that fact that a woman was at Jesus feet was not what was so shocking to Simon our host. Nor even that she was pouring out tears and perfume and herself over him. It was the person he thought she was that was so offensive to him. Simon was shocked that Jesus, who was supposed to be a prophet, didn't know who or what this women was, would allow himself to be tainted by her touch. Simon needed a new way of looking at himself and other people. Simon needed a forgiving spirit.
This woman at Jesus feet is the only one of these three who knew who she was. This nameless woman was known to be a sinner, the scripture says. She apparently had heard that Jesus preached forgiveness, welcomed sinners, and was risking that he would not throw her away, as perhaps so many others had done in the past. She knew she was a sinner and was wallowing in the good news of forgiveness. She had been lavishly accepted, and was responding with lavish gratitude at Jesus feet. She abandoned herself to the power of God's love, and that evidence of forgiveness so freely given offended Simon.
In order to get Simon to understand, Jesus, like Nathan, tells a story about someone else: Simon, I have something to say to you. You got two people who owe money: one a little bit, one a lot. When both their debts are cancelled, who do you think was more grateful?
Simon responds, I guess the one who owed more. Jesus then reframes this parable in Simon's living room. Two debtors or sinners are here: one, who knows himself to be a good person, receives little joy from the forgiveness offered him. In contrast, the nameless woman, whose sins are apparently known by everyone, knows she is forgiven, loved, and is grateful. Her extravagant emotional scene makes Simon's perfunctory hosting look pathetic.
We take a huge risk in letting Jesus into our lives as Simon invited Jesus into his house. For when you invite Jesus in, you cannot shut the door to anyone else. Most certainly not to those who offend you. When you accept the grace and forgiveness offered by God, you also must accept the fact that grace and forgiveness is freely offered to all. Everyone is forgiven. Everyone is loved. Everyone is welcome.
Forgiveness, not behavior, is the foundation of our relationship with God. Forgiveness, and seeing in new ways, must also be the foundation of our relationship with each other. God's forgiveness of us is unconditional, but our forgiveness of ourselves and each other is a process which takes maturity and time. The woman's acceptance of Jesus acceptance of her is the foundation of faith. It may take an entire lifetime to come to believe that it is possible to be loved, and to learn to live as a person forgiven.
St. Paul's entire ministry was spent in trying to answer the question, Who do you think you are. He knows for sure that the law no longer defines his life. He knows that his identity as a sinner no longer defines him either. He knows that justification, being in right relationship with God, is dependent on God's goodness, and not anything that he did or didn't do. Paul says that his life is now shaped by his faith in Christ Jesus, who loved him, and gave himself for him. Paul had had come to know himself to be a forgiven person.
If you don't know yourself to be a forgiven person, the Christian life is impossible. You will never get it right—Paul knows because he tried.
So who do I think I am? I'm a sinner. But I'm no longer identified by my sinfulness. I am identified by my faith in the one in whom I place my trust, the one who loves me and gave himself for me.
We as a community of faith need each other in order to live forgiven and forgiving lives. Sometimes like King David, other must tell us when we're behaving badly and need to turn our lives around. Sometimes, like Simon, we need to be reminded that we have not earned God's good grace because we do everything just right. Most often though we need to remind each other that we are simply forgiven and accepted by God.
May you find deep joy in knowing that you are forgiven. May God give you grace to cultivate a forgiving spirit. May you always know deep in your hearts who you are really are; the beloved of God, who loves you and gave himself for you. Amen.