Do you see?: How to talk like Jesus in a polarized world ~ Luke 7:36-50

 

This sermon has one big question and one big idea: How do we talk to each other in a polarized world? Well, if we listen to Jesus we’ll realize that we can talk thoughtfully and gracefully with one another.

If we’re going to talk like Jesus, we need to acknowledge the goodness of Simon(s) and eat with them.

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.

Our story gets off to a good start and is instructive for the moment we find ourselves in. Though different in many ways, this dinner party was occurring in a time of political unrest, factionalism, 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 vital to acknowledge that Simon was a Pharisee who invited Jesus to dinner. And that takes courage – he was aware of Jesus’ teaching, knew that they didn’t see eye-to-eye, but nevertheless thought Jesus was worth a conversation and a meal. There is no evidence of a trap nor anything that would suggest foul play. Simon did good, the Gospel acknowledges it and Jesus went. And more than acknowledge it, we should emulate it. We should be like Simon inviting those with a different perspective or ones we struggle with to dinner. We should seek out dinner companions who may not think like us, particularly ones who seek to follow God.

And friends, we need to be like Simon now more than ever. We must say “no” to the culture of shame and death that seems so prevalent. We no longer seem to disagree with one another, we despise one another. We no longer hope to persuade another, we long for their destruction. We no longer seek another’s point of view, we portray them shamefully as a meme. We need to widen our gaze and acknowledge that even those we disagree with can be right at times, can offer gracious invitations. Even those we disagree with our worthy of our attention. Even those we disagree with can come to dinner. Discussion and dinner, it turns out, IS a practice of discipleship, a place for conversion. Our enemies can often be hospitable and kind. The Gospel tells us so. Do you see?

If you’re going to talk like Jesus, you’ve got to stop talking to yourself and be mindful.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “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 started well. He did. And yet here is where Simon, you, and me, often go wrong. So many of our problems in speaking to each other exist because we aren’t actually talking to each other but only talking to ourselves. This is a persistent problem for the Pharisees (Luke 5:21, 6:11, 7:39, 7:49). Like Simon, we get all frothy, caught up in our own mental conversation, and fail to see things that are right in front of us. It’s when we start finishing people’s sentences, start assuming intent, start adding commentary based upon our past. We need to learn the skill of observing, mindfulness, becoming aware of our thoughts and internal story telling that has us jumping to conclusions or talking to ourselves, so that we can truly see and love others better. Jesus will teach his disciples in Luke 8, “Pay attention to how you listen” and encourage them not to worry about what they should say because the Spirit would help them. After Jesus tells his reflective story about forgiveness he asks Simon, “Do you see this woman?”. Jesus suggest that what you see is as important as what you say. If you want to see, you are going to have to stop talking to yourself and be present and non-reactive – even when it’s painful, or uncomfortable, or challenging. I recently found myself in a conversation that I cared deeply about but failed because I refused to see. I interrupted someone and said, “I know what you’re going to say, you’re going to  . . .” and completed a lengthy statement that would’ve been the supposed person’s point of view. Not surprising, the conversation ended, and I realized that I didn’t actually know what she was going to say. Like Simon, I was merely talking to myself.

Sin is a conversation killer. It wants you to mentally murder your opponent. It warps our relationships by blinding us on the inside, stirring up emotions and ideas like silt in clear water, to keep us from being present. Sin is a relationship killer that damages our relationship with God, others, ourselves, and the whole of creation. Conversation doesn’t mean that you agree with someone (Jesus challenges Simon), doesn’t mean that you condone one’s ideas or actions. It does mean, however, that you remember that salvation is fundamentally about restored relationships. So if your approach leaves you cut off from others, it’s not Jesus’ way. Sin wants us talking to ourselves. Jesus wants us to tells stories and asks questions. He engages Simon as Simon seeks to withdraw within himself. He invites Simon to observe and lovingly widen his gaze – first internally and then externally. And Jesus doesn’t assume that Simon is a lost cause. He simply invites him to love and look. Do you see?

3. If we’re going to talk like Jesus, we must understand that “forgiveness” and “faith” is about expansive love, courtesy and peace.

⁴⁴ Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 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.” . . . ⁵⁰ Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

One of the greatest ironies of our story is the role Jesus attaches to courtesy and love in what would seem on the service to primarily be a theological conversation about forgiveness. The ultimate failure of Simon the Pharisee, according to Jesus, is that while he invited Jesus to his home, he didn’t treat him as a host should’ve (vss. 44-46). More than merely a question of disagreeing over Scripture, he disregarded the cultural norms of welcome, care, and generosity. This is often where 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? But Jesus goes further. Let’s read again beginning with vs. 44. Hospitable things, Jesus reminds, are important regardless of your point. In fact, Jesus calls them “faith.” Great love and courtesy are the evidence and expression of faith. And at no point does the woman receive a theological exam and yet her many courtesies and great love for Jesus suffice. And Jesus responds: “Your faith has saved you, go in peace.” The flip side to the question, “How forgiven do you feel?” is the question, “How much do you love others?”

Where does one go when told by Jesus to “go in peace”? The price of the woman’s way of life was a forced separation from the very spiritual institution that could help her. What she needed was a community of forgiven and forgiving sinners. The story screams for a body, a witness, a community, that welcomes all to whom Jesus promises peace.