11th Sunday Ordinary Time Cycle C June 13,
2010
2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13 Galatians 2:16, 19-21 Luke 7:36-8:
3
As the experts continue to try to figure out how to plug the hole a
mile deep on the ocean’s floor, trying to contain a massive oil spill,
what we have in today’s Gospel is another version of an “oil spill.”
Instead of coming from and spewing forth uncontrollably from the
belly of the earth, the oil spill we have in this Gospel is quite
contained. It is accurately and precisely measured in an alabaster
flask. It is very fragrant, smelling like lilacs on a warm spring day.
And this oil spill in the Gospel does not destroy life but rather saves
life.
In the words of Jesus, “So I tell you, her many sins have been
forgiven because she has shown great love.” A life
saved.
It’s a loving oil spill. An oil spill not into the clean waters of the Gulf of
Mexico. But rather an oil spill onto the feet of the Savior of the world.
See, there can be such a thing as a good oil spill. And what makes
this a good oil spill onto the feet of Jesus is the fact it is not
accidental, but rather purposely intentional. It is not uncontrollable,
but rather very much measured. And it does not cause widespread
environmental damage, but rather it builds up the human spirit. What
makes this a good oil spill onto the feet of Jesus is the fact it is
performed with the greatest humility, tenderness, love, and sincere
devotion to the person on which the spill takes place. And Jesus let
it happen.
Could you imagine sitting down before dinner in the house of
someone who’s invited you over to break bread with them, and
before you begin to eat some unknown person comes along and
begins to pour an alabaster flask of ointment onto your feet for no
good reason? What would our reaction be? “Leave my feet alone!
You’re getting my socks wet! Get away from me!” Possibly mixed in
with a few expletives.
But Jesus doesn’t react that way, even though Simon the Pharisee
wants him to. Why doesn’t Jesus react the way we probably would?
Because he recognizes love when he sees it. And he allows it to
happen, even if it’s an oil spill on his feet. Jesus also recognizes
hypocrisy when it sees it, calling out Simon the Pharisee on being
such a rotten host. But the reason Jesus allows love to happen in
this case is precisely because he knows the type of person who is
meditating at his feet. He knew exactly the type of person who was
seemingly oblivious to all around her as she sought forgiveness for
all her past sins. And he allowed it to
happen.
There’s a thousand and one spiritual teachings for us in this real
event in Jesus’ life. A few hundred from the perspective of Simon the
Pharisee beginning with being a rotten host. Maybe a few hundred
more from the perspective of others who were undoubtedly present,
beginning with trying to figure out the deeper meaning of this act.
And hundreds more from “the sort of woman this is who is touching
him,” in the words of
Simon.
But one spiritual truth that stands out like a bright light is that when
an outward act of love and seeking forgiveness is started, and when
a person’s heart is moved so deeply as to want conversion and
forgiveness from past ways, Jesus makes room for it and allows it to
reach completion. He recognizes it for what it is, and he leads it
home, even if it’s an oil spill onto his
feet.
There’s such a thing as a good oil spill. It’s not found in the Gulf of
Mexico. It’s found at the feet of Jesus, where lives are changed and
where souls are saved.
“He said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you, go in
peace.’”