Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, June 16, 2013 - Luke 7:36-8:3

A local couple had their identity stolen
And found themselves twenty thousand dollars in debt;
They had to go through all kinds of hoops
To be believed by the bank, and get their debt cancelled.

In Simon's house, everyone knew the woman's identity;
Her debts had mounted up, no doubt a lot to her pimp;
I picture her, hoop earrings dangling with her hair,
Believing, crying, washing feet, indebted no more.

Do you also know who Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Susanna were?
"Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors" wasn't just learned by the men;
These women raised no hoopla in being disciples,
But they simply banked on Jesus.  How interesting!

Scott L. Barton


One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the
Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the
city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the
Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood
behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her
tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his
feet and anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who
had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a
prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is
touching him—that she is a sinner.” Jesus spoke up and said to him,
“Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied,
“Speak.” “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred
denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the
debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon
answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.”
And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward
the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your
house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet
with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but
from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did
not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with
ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been
forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little
is forgiven, loves little.” Then he said to her, “Your sins are
forgiven.” But those who were at the table with him began to say among
themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” And he said to the
woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming
and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with
him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and
infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone
out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and
many others, who provided for them out of their resources.

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