June 17, 2007  Third Sunday after Pentecost / Father’s Day

Luke 7:36-8:3

Pastor Gary E. Benson    

Zumbro Lutheran Church, Rochester, MN

 

                                                 

 EXPECTATIONS

 

A few weeks ago, as members of Root Prairie Lutheran Church went to their church, what they were expecting and what was reality was a severely different image.  Thinking of entering serene and sacred space was interrupted by the reality of damage that virtually demolished the interior of the church -- from thrown pews over the balcony to toilets being torn out of the floor, to the altar picture of Jesus having a knife cut through it,  let alone stained glass windows shattered.  That place which is a mission center of the gospel had become the target of those embraced by evil and bent on destroying the serene and sacred space of the Root Prairie worshipping community.  It was an action no one would have expected, and naturally it does havoc with our spirit and conscious when we think of what kind of evil spirited possessed people would do such a thing.

 

Life is constantly a matter of dealing with the unexpected; and more often than not such moments send us forth in great joy or into the valley of darkness.  On this Father’s Day I recall the “unexpected” appearance of my Aunt Janet appearing in the 6^th grade classroom. I left the room to go with her; she told me my father had just died – certainly an overwhelming moment of the “unexpected. “ On the other hand, seventeen years later, as a married man of five years in 1976, I recall my wife, Sara, being very sick, taking her to the hospital, and wow!  We found out she was expecting a child.  Honest story, I thought now what, so on the way home from the hospital (in July) I bought a pair of snow skies because with this unexpected news I thought I would never be able to afford anything fun again – Sara was expecting!!

 

Today, in our gospel lesson there are also illustrations and lessons in expectations.  The text begins with the Pharisees,  the fine upright, holier than thou religious leaders, inviting Jesus to their home. A woman appears, and how is she identified, but, quote “and a woman in the city who was a sinner appeared at the house.”

 

So, what kind of expectations and impression might one have of these two seemingly opposite end of the spectrum folks who sought to engage Jesus: a religious Pharisee and a woman labeled a sinner?

 

On the one hand, the Pharisees did as the Pharisees do, they were people of question, intellect, and investigation -- trying to truly scope Jesus out as to who he really was. Was he a prophet, a hoax, who is he?  On the other hand, the woman, labeled a sinner,  by her actions her expectation appeared to be that of a humble person seeking to engage Jesus for the blessing of forgiveness.

 

Jesus makes this observation of the two: He said …

• Pharisees, when I came into this house you gave me no water for me feet;  she bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair
• You gave me no kiss; she could not stop kissing my feet
• You did not anoint my head with oil; she has anointed my feet with expensive ointment
• THEREFORE – As he said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven; go in peace!”  The Pharisees around the table were left scratching there theological minds asking, “Who is this that forgives sins?”

 

The quote “sinner,” through her expressions of humility, the anointing of Jesus, had “faith” in who Jesus was and what he may be expected to do, while the theologically learned and labeled Pharisees were interested in Jesus, but they certainly didn’t have an expectation of trusting Jesus. Two quite differing expectations..

 

The Christian life is not simply about Jesus’ inquiry, talk, or language. It is having faith,” faith defined as trusting in God’s reason when our reasons run out. Believing and trusting/expecting as the woman who anointed Jesus,  that our great and gracious God will meet us at the point of need -- especially in the dark and difficult times, pushing back the darkness (of sin, hurt, loneliness) being that light of hope.

 

In that regard, having had a father for only seven years or so, my memories are few. I do remember Dad working on the Properties Committee at Our Savior’s Lutheran; he had me come along when they were taking out a stained glass window in ’58 to build the Sunday School addition. Furthermore, I remember sitting in church with my parents on Sunday. And even though I had a father for only a few years, still in those few years I learned what Dad expected of me. Two things: respect and love my mother, and love and serve God. And at the end of the day, I think that expectation is more significant than his playing ball or going fishing with me – although I still think about how great that would have been.

 

As we gather for worship today – with all our expectations; and with the challenge of continually dealing with the unexpected personally and spiritually, in community, and in the world, the Good News is it is approaching Jesus daily in faith (as the woman did) that matters, gathering around Word and Sacrament knowing Jesus is the ONE who forgives, saves, delivers, and offers hope. Claim Him, celebrate Him, share Him, and expect to be blessed as you are a blessing. For as Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly.” Claim such truth daily and live with no less than the expectation of an abundant life in Jesus Christ!