Last week we had some great resurrection texts.  God, through Elijah, raised the son of a widow and returned that son to his mother.  Jesus raised the only son of a widow.  Both accounts speak of hope.  Both accounts speak of an unimaginable love.  In my sermon from last week (Sermons by Eric) I focused on the theme of hope.  Jesus came to this world and overcame this world.  Jesus showed a love like no other and (as another pastor said in her sermon) returned us to each other after raising us to New Life in Him (I love that thought).

This week we have a number of texts dealing with forgiveness.  The Old Testament text is from 2 Samuel 11:26-12:10, 13-15.  Of course, the lectionary organizers left out verses 11 and 12.  Well…here they are in case anyone is interested:    "For thus says the Lord, ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you.  Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight (this takes a great deal of faith to sleep with the king’s wives in broad daylight) You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’"  Are these verses too difficult for people to hear?  I just can’t stand it when the lectionary organizers insist on trying to "protect" people by picking and choosing verses to be read.  This happens a lot.  But I digress and step off my soapbox…

The Gospel text for Sunday, June 17 is from Luke 7:36-8:3.  This tells the story of a "sinful woman" anointing Jesus feet with oil at the home of a Pharisee.  The Pharisee gets upset but Jesus tells a parable about the debts of two people being forgiven, one larger than the other.  The point is that the person who is forgiven much will love the forgiver more.  We are forgiven much…do we love God much?  I think we take forgiveness for granted.  I think too many people go through the motions of the Brief Order of Confession and Forgiveness and don’t think about the words or the proclamation of forgiveness.  God has forgiven us much but do we show love in return?

We have a lot to learn from this woman.  She knew her sin.  She was ashamed of her sin.  She was repentant of her sin.  So…she threw herself at Jesus feet and experienced amazing forgiveness.  You and I experience this same amazing forgiveness each week when we hear the pastor (or worship leader) announce forgiveness by the power and authority of Jesus Christ.  Know your sin, throw yourself at Jesus feet, and live the love of Christ. 

Love much for we have been forgiven much.  Praise God always and forever.  Amen!
-edh-