Do you see this parable?: A story about forgiveness, racism, uncomfortable stories, and us ~ Luke 7:36-50 (Short Stories Jesus Told series)

Spoiler alert! I’m going to start today’s sermon with its conclusion: Our goal is to invite Jesus, be hospitable, be aware of ourselves (our standing with God and others), and listen to uncomfortable stories.

³⁶ When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.

The setting for our parable is more than helpful background information but also instructive for the moment we find ourselves in. Though different in many ways, this dinner party was occurring in a time of political unrest, violence, fear, and even religious misunderstanding. And while it’s often the case that Pharisees can occupy the more negative characters in the gospel story, it seems more than appropriate to acknowledge that Simon was a Pharisee who invited Jesus to dinner. And that takes courage – he knew that they didn’t see eye-to-eye but nevertheless thought Jesus was worth a conversation and a meal. And so I want us to be like the Pharisee and invite Jesus into our conversations as well.  Before your political candidate, or your opinion, or your party; let’s at least begin with inviting Jesus to attend, to ask him what he thinks of what you think or do and listen to him. Because friends, the end goal is not discussion – it’s discipleship. And that means that everything you are must be put in dialogue with Jesus and surrendered to him. I also believe we should praise Simon the Pharisee in another way, like him we should be inviting those with a different perspective or ones we struggle with. We should seek out dinner companions who may not think like us but who seek to follow God.
These are good beginnings. But if we’re going to have conversations about difficult things that matter as Christians, we have to do more than invite Jesus and other perspectives. We’re also going to have to be hospitable.
One of the failures of Simon the Pharisee is that while he invited Jesus to his home, he didn’t treat his guest as he should’ve (vss. 44-46). More than a question of disagreeing over Scripture, he disregarded the cultural norms of welcome, care, and generosity. This is often were things go wrong for us as well. With perhaps good intentions we enter into a conversation with someone different and immediately forget those cultural habits of listening well and treating others respectfully. We offer no water, no oil no kiss. And Jesus calls Simon out for this. Will Jesus call you out as well? Hospitable things, Jesus reminds, are important regardless of your point.
But the main problem wasn’t even Simon’s lack of hospitality – it was his blindness -  his seemingly inability to see who he was in this exchange and therefore who others were as well. And as white Christians this might be one of the most pressing concerns for us as we seek to engage the current state of racism in this country. 

We must remember who the “real” sinner is and listen to uncomfortable stories.
“If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” ⁴⁰ Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
Simon claims that Jesus is no prophet because, if he were, he would know that the woman is a sinner. If Jesus were a prophet, he would know its others who are the problem. Simon thinks this way but doesn’t say it. Jesus, however, does know the thoughts of sinners. He knows Simon’s thoughts, my thoughts, and yours. Proof by Simon’s own criterion that Jesus is a prophet. But Jesus doesn’t simply know sinful thoughts – he wants to tell us stories so that we can see our sin and love others better. In fact, after the story was over Jesus’ test for Simon was Simon’s awareness of others, “Do you see this woman?,” Jesus asked.

Friends, in this moment of violence, tragedy, racism, and fear – I want to ask you to listen to uncomfortable stories which aim to help you see your own sin. Can those of us who are white see how we have been blinded by our own privilege and therefore blind to the actual plight of people of color? To do that – we will have to listen to hard stories which unmask us. I want to ask us, “Do you see George Floyd?” “Do you see Ahmaud Arbery?” “Do you see Breonna Taylor?” Do you know the stories of racism from people of color in our own congregation? Have you listened to stories from our brothers and sisters of color who are despised, rejected, incarcerated, profiled, because of sin?
And sin is the problem. It warps our relationships but also how we see others and ourselves. Sin is a destructive, all-encompassing, generational force that damages our relationship with God, others, ourselves, and the whole of creation. And sin can warp how we see the world and our own place in it. And so Jesus tells us a 2 verse story that knocks us sideways: ⁴¹ “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
The point of the story is clear – Vs. 47: ⁴⁷ Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Jesus isn’t telling us that those who haven’t done much sin are doomed to love him less. No, he states basically, “Whoever (thinks he) has been forgiven little loves little.” And not simply loves Jesus less but others as well – like the woman – do you see?
So we’re going to be delving into some uncomfortable stories as a church but we will do it by inviting Jesus, being hospitable to him and others and recognizing our own sin and complicity. Take the 21 Day Challenge with Dr. Moore which offers us stories to challenge our visions of oppression, privilege, and power.

But there’s hope. Pharisees, not just “sinners” can be saved! We actually don’t know what happened to Simon. We’re not told he rejected Jesus in the end. But I would like to substitute another Pharisee in his place who did lean into this furnace of conversion which challenged is own sense of identity and privilege – the Apostle Paul. Now I know that you’ve heard this next part before but if you’re as forgetful as I am then we could all use a refresher. I’m talking about the Apostle Paul’s transformation from the dominant, majority, privileged, position of power to one of deep solidarity with others. I’m talking about his conversion from privileged religious cop to transformed Christian servant. 

c. 36 A.D. Acts 9:29-31: He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. ³⁰ When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. ³¹ Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

·       The language and geography reveal a petulant, argument new convert who helps no one by his arguing and debating. The point is made by the laughable conclusion that only when he goes away is the church throughout the whole region strengthened.

c. (17 years later) 53 A.D. Galatians 2:6: ⁶ As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message.

·       The other believer’s stories (from original apostles, no less) don’t matter. He assumes that he knows all he needs to know, has seen all he has needed to see. He has nothing to learn.

c. (18 years a Christian) 54 A.D. 1 Corinthians 15:3-9: ³ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. ⁶ After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, ⁸ and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. ⁹ For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

·       Notice how the language shifts – to more passive verbs: I received. He begins to acknowledge the importance of others stories which are important for his own. He acknowledges that he was warped by sin “abnormal” and that he was complicit in persecuting and harming other brothers and sisters in Christ. Perhaps some of the stories he heard where uncomfortable stories of people he once persecuted. Perhaps he worshipped with Stephen’s family and had to wrestle with what he had done.

c. (26 years a Christian) 62 A.D. Ephesians 3:7-8: ⁷ I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. ⁸ Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,

·       Here he’s a “servant” and speaks less about his own efforts, achievements, or even ethnic status but the “gift of God’s grace.” The greater the vision of grace, the greater the view of the debt.

c. (27 years a Christian) 65 A.D. 1 Timothy 1:12-15: ¹² I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. ¹³ Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. ¹⁴ The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

The desired goal has been reached. He finally sees. He now embodies Jesus’ parable. He is Jesus’ parable. That’s what the Christian journey is about. Jesus wants to tell you a story so that you see yourself in the proper way. “Do you see this woman?” “Do you see yourself?” Until you see yourself as the one who “owed more”; you will never be properly able to see. But “hallelujah” even a blind, arrogant, Pharisee can be saved.  This whole thing started with Jesus and a meal leading us to forgiveness and sight. And Jesus invites us to a meal now. Will

you see? Let’s start with confession.

O God,

On this Sunday we confess
that the sin of racial hatred and prejudice

distorts your divine plan for our human lives:

Forgive us.

You created us in divine likeness, diverse and beautiful:
In every person, every race is your image.
But too often we fail to recognize your image in all:
Forgive us.

You created us in divine freedom, to be free:
In every decision, every choice is your possibility of justice.
But too often we fail to choose to advocate for your justice for all:
Forgive us.

You created us for divine abundance, to tend and share:
In every garden, every social structure is your seed of community.
But too often we fail to create that community which includes all,
and gives to all equal access to your abundant life:
Forgive us.

Forgive us:
Open our eyes to distinguish good from evil
Open our hearts to desire good over evil
Strengthen our wills to choose good over evil,

So that we may create among us your beloved community.

Amen.