Are we like Simon? Holding court in our home and in your heart, quietly judging those who have made mistakes and have regrets? Do we set the table for Jesus thinking that He’ ll be impressed with our knowledge and good works? Let Jesus say our name today, and break through the facade of religion and invite us into relationship with Him and others. Will we set the table for Jesus, not to impress Him, but to listen and learn? Jesus speaks, and Jesus sees.
Jesus sees all of us. Jesus, in His full humanity, sees us in our full humanity, and Jesus in His full divinity offers us perfect compassion, perfect mercy, and perfect grace.
Jesus sees us when we desperately cry at his feet. He sees us when we pour out all we have at his feet. He sees us when we’ ve squandered our inheritance and gifts on mistakes that shackle us in shame. He sees us. He sees us when others don’ t. He sees us when others won’ t. He sees us when we judge, and he sees us when we’ re judged. Whether we’ re the judge or the judged, Jesus invites us to come to Him. Jesus shows us that true love, true compassion begins at seeing someone as fully human, just like us. He sees us when we’ re like this woman, and He sees us when we are like Simon. And, full of love, Jesus addresses us in both areas. He speaks to us when we’ re being judgmental and He holds us close when we feel like we’ ve been judged.
Jesus lives with what Brennan Manning in his book Abba’ s Child calls,“ indiscriminate compassion.” No matter who we are, what we’ ve done, He sees us, and loves us.
Jesus sees us in the midst of our worst mistakes. And he loves us too much to leave us there. He loves with indiscriminate compassion.
As The Body of Christ, the Church, we are called to be a people of indiscriminate compassion. We want the city of Fulton, and all of Itawamba county to feel the full indiscriminate love of God and know that they have a place here. No matter where they’ ve been or haven’ t been, what they’ ve done or haven’ t done. Everyone has a place here. You have a place. I have a place. And everyone outside of these doors has a place here. Brennan Manning goes on to say in that same book,“ The compassion of God in our hearts opens our eyes to the unique worth of each person.” When we experience the true compassion of Jesus, we are then able to show that compassion on others. We see people. Not for what we can gain from them, but we see them as beloved children of God. We invite them over for dinner not so that we can show how polite and kind and smart we are, but instead so we can feed them and enjoy their company. We offer them money not so that we feel good about ourselves, but because they’ re people just like us. We bring them alongside us and treat them as family, because Jesus made us family. He forgave us, and gave us a new journey of peace.
When we meet Jesus for dinner, whether we’ re at the table, or at his feet, we see someone who is fully human, fully divine, and in that, fully compassionate, fully loving and someone who wants to show us what that really means and looks like. Will you come meet with him today?
Then Jesus said to her,“ Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves,“ Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman,“ Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
- Luke 7:48-50
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