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.
When a great crowd gathered and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: 'A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold.' As he said this, he called out, 'Let anyone with ears to hear listen!' Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, 'To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to others I speak in parables, so that "looking they may not perceive, and listening they may not understand." 'Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones on the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe only for a while and in a time of testing fall away. As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear; but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.
The Gospel for today comes after the Gospel that was part of yesterday's Daily Office.
Luke 7: 36-50 (NRSV)
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. 37And 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. 38She 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. 39Now 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.” 40Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “Speak.” 41“A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” 43Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44Then 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. 45You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47Therefore, 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.” 48Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
The times in which Jesus lived were times very much like our own when women were very poorly stereotyped. Women were property and some-thing to be paid for to own. In the case of those women who were prostitutes they were particularly scandalized and stigmatized. In this Gospel Simon the Pharisee said of the woman washing the feet of Jesus and drying them with her hair: "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.” 40Keep in mind of course that this woman would not have been where she was had someone in the company of that home not invited her to be there. Nevertheless while Jesus was there having to prove who he was to the others who were there, this woman already knows. She knows that before her is someone so unique and powerful that he has the ability to see the value of who she is and release her of the guilt and sin that she feels so deep in her heart. While the men in the crowd of this house question the validity of Jesus, this wonderful woman, just loves him and serves him, because she knows that serving this man who is God will set her free to be the woman God created her to be. Jesus recognizes in this woman the beauty and power of God's creation, the strength of someone who has endured so much, yet willing to totally loose herself in loving God that she serves God in Jesus while she weeps at Jesus' feet, wipes them with her hair and anoints them.
In the beginning of today's Gospel among the disciples of Jesus are women serving with and for Jesus and the others. Throughout the Gospel of Luke we see the importance of the role of women in the life and ministry of Jesus. In the story of the Canaanite Woman (see Mark 7:24-30) we see Jesus struggling with his own culture, and even to the point of allowing a woman outside of his common culture to teach him. It is by no accident then, that the Parable about the seed and the word follows after these two Gospel accounts of women. There is something about a woman's ability to listen and respond with a sensitivity and a sense of understanding that can open even a man's heart and help him comprehend things from a completely different point of view.
This afternoon I enjoyed a wonderful lunch with Debra Davis of the Gender Education Center of Minnesota. She is a transgender woman who took the time and opportunity to correct me about my use of the word transgendered vs. transgender. I thank her for teaching me that invaluable lesson. I had never given thought to what I might be writing in so many of my blogs when I have used the word transgendered. To the transgender members of our communities, I apologize and ask your forgiveness.
I truly believe along with other members of our communities that the problem with working for the equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people is our societies problem with respect for women. Just as in Biblical times women were thought of as the "weaker gender", today the idea that a man would want to place himself in the position of being a woman is something that terrifies a lot of men. Such a position puts us men in our places to recognizing women as equal and vital to the function of society and the Church. This is one of the reasons I no longer oppose the ordination of women to be Bishops, Priests and Deacons. This is why I cannot be part of a church that does not respect and recognize the role of women. Men would not be where we are, were it not for the strength and courage of women. Those of us men who have chosen in our sexual activities to take the role of being a bottom are doing a world of good in a society men that marginalizes women. I do believe that is one of the major reasons why Christianists and the Roman Catholic hierarchy rejects women and homosexual activity. The fear of women. The fear of men placing themselves in a role that is different then the idea of being masculine to being totally feminine and receptive but assertive is more than many men can take. This could also be among the reasons why the many transgender people that were part of the Stonewall Riots have often been left out of the LGBTQ communities many history books about that famous day in 1969.
If Jesus in his day allowed himself to be served and to be in service with women and Jesus was God's perfect revelation, then we need to continue to challenge both the Church and society to continue the work of justice for women among other minority groups. I cannot over state the damage and injustice that much of society and the Church heaps upon all women, including but not limited to women of different races and religions. The recent ruling by France that will not allow Islamic Women to wear their head coverings. Work places that will not honor an Islamic woman's right to wear her head coverings. How many times the local media stereo types black women with the news that women of color have a higher percentage of diseases and victims of violent crimes. Local police departments who consistently profile black women more than any other women. The profiling of lesbian women and transgender women is just as much of an issue. And of course the issue of a woman's reproductive rights. Many so called "pro-life" groups are against a woman's right to choose, but doing nothing about holding men accountable for their sexual carelessness with women. The recent news of Arizona's anti-immigration law hits women particularly hard, especially those caring for small children. That is hardly a "pro-life" attitude.
The Church that seeks to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, cannot ignore these important issues. We are called to support everyone who seeks justice and peace from oppression and subjugation. Our role as the Church is to never make peace with oppression or subjugation, but to continue to share a Gospel of unconditional and all-inclusive love for every human person. That is what I believe is the difference between someone who hears the words and puts them into practice in our lives, and others who just listen and let the cares of the world choke out whatever we have heard.
God the Holy Spirit, the Mother representing the feminine nature of God, knows that we need reform. She waits patiently to teach us and help us learn her ways of love and justice. There is always room and opportunity for our human hearts to learn from our Mother the Holy Spirit if we will just spend some time in quiet solitude listening to her speak and share with us how much God loves each of us.
Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 22, Book of Common Prayer, page 234).
Jesus, as a mother you gather your people to you:
You are gentle with us as a mother with her children;
Often you weep over our sins and our pride:
tenderly you draw us from hatred and judgment.
You comfort us in sorrow and bind up our wounds:
in sickness you nurse us,
and with pure milk you feed us.
Jesus, by your dying we are born to new life:
by your anguish and labor we come forth in joy.
Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness:
through your gentleness we find comfort in fear.
Your warmth gives life to the dead:
your touch makes sinners righteous.
Lord Jesus, in your mercy heal us:
in your love and tenderness remake us.
In your compassion bring grace and forgiveness:
for the beauty of heaven may your love prepare us. Amen
(A Canticle of Anselm, The Daily Office Website).
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