From: "Fr John W Fenton (by way of Rev. Eric J. Stefanski, )" To: Subject: HP: Sermon for Feast of St Mary Magdalene Date: Thursday, November 01, 2001 1:02 PM The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene St. Luke 7.36-50 In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Dearly Beloved: Today's Gospel is not about the Lord doling out more forgiveness to some people and less to others-as if our Jesus sits there and decides to forgive three-fifths of your sins, seven-eighths of hers and one-third of his. That's not how it works. Because that places all the emphasis on sin rather than forgiveness. And it makes us want to measure sin so that we can say who's got more, who's done worse, and who's sin is deserving or undeserving of God's mercy. That's how we judge things, but that is not Our Lord's way. For He holds nothing back when He plainly and bluntly says, "I forgive you all your sins." What Our Lord Jesus says is tied to what He does-or, I should say, to who He becomes. And what did He become? He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Which means that He bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness. So how much of our sin did He become? How much of our sin did He bear in His body? Not little bits and parts, but all of it! That is the beginning of God's mercy in Christ-He becomes the whole sin that we are, and takes the full load of what we say and do. And what is the rest of God's mercy? We receive and become the full righteousness of God in Him. And we are declared not partially but fully holy and righteous in the sight of God. So how much of the righteousness of God do we receive and become? Not little bits and parts, but all! It is good that our gracious and merciful Lord Jesus Christ does not deal with us as we deal with each other. For we are quick to withhold our love and kindness because of this little thing that someone said or did. We are quick to hold grudges, and grudgingly do we forgive-and then only those bits and parts that we determine are forgivable. Rarely do we forgive a person everything, free and clear. Even more rarely do we freely and quickly give our full forgiveness. Is it any wonder, then, that we see and hear things like Simon the Pharisee? When he saw the woman anointing Jesus' feet, Simon did not see a sinner like himself but someone who was worse-because he judged that her sins were more and greater and worse. And when Simon heard Jesus' little story about the two debtors, Simon did not hear that both men were freely forgiven. Instead, he focused on how much was owed and how much was forgiven. And so he supposed that the one that owed more should love more. But Simon misses the point. It's not about who owes the most, or who's done the most wrong, or who's the worst sinner. It's not about comparing people to see where we end up. It's not about looking at others and feeling good about yourself because you're a better person. And it's not about doing the right thing so that in the end you get something more or better. It's about God's mercy. The Lord's forgiveness. The never-ending compassion that Jesus gives. And the love which God our Father pours over you and into you generously by the Holy Spirit. When you treasure that and take it to heart, then you will begin to realize how undeserving you are to receive this forgiving and saving grace of God. For Our Lord God doesn't forgive you because you were bad enough to need it. Neither does He forgive you because He chose you and not someone else. Our Lord God forgives you because He sacrificed His only-begotten Son for all peoples, nations and races of all times and places. So everyone receives this undeserved, superabundant, overflowing mercy of God. And you get it for everything you have done or said, and everything you are. Those who think little of this forgiveness, love the Lord little. And those who think much of it, love the Lord much. And that is the point Jesus is trying to make to Simon and to you. The sinful woman who sneaks into the house, and washes Jesus' feet with her tears, and dries them with her hair, and then pours fragrant perfume over Jesus feet-this woman does this not because she is a very great sinner. She does this because she thinks so much of Our Lord's forgiveness. She is overwhelmed that her Lord would forgive her. And so she cannot stop herself from kissing Jesus' feet. For they are the feet of the One who brings and who is the Gospel of peace. And just so there is no confusion-so no one thinks it's because the woman is worse than anyone else; and to let her hear once more what she already believes, Jesus says to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven." They were already forgiven, but she loved to hear it so much and thought so highly of that absolution that Our Lord Jesus could not refuse to speak it to her again. "Oh, that you thought as much of My forgiveness! Oh, that you would not be embarrassed to show Me the same love and affection as this woman does; that you would stop at nothing to hear My absolution again. Oh, that you would let nothing prevent you from handling My Body, and from hearing My forgiveness which I desire to speak to you so often, so freely, so fully. Oh, that you would pin all your hopes on Me and the righteousness I am and the mercy I give. Oh, that you would acknowledge and confess your sin with the confidence that I have and will quickly and unconditionally and utterly forgive you all your sins!" That is what Our Blessed Lord Jesus says in today's Gospel. He says it to Simon the Pharisee. He says it to all who think so much of themselves. He says it to all who are timid, or who fear to approach Him. And most specifically, He says it to you. "Your sins are forgiven. Go in peace." What more do we want from Our Lord? What better words can He say? What better gift can He give? God grant us the faith of this woman so that we might also, with all boldness and confidence, approach the throne of grace, seeking and imploring Our Lord's mercy which He so freely and wholeheartedly gives through Jesus Christ Our Lord in His Holy Spirit. In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. 22 July 2001 Rev. Fr. John W. Fenton + Historic Preaching + The Historic Preaching list is devoted to preaching on the Propers of the Historic Lectionary as found in The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH) and Service Book and Hymnal (SBH). Subscribe? Send ANY message to: Unsubscribe? Send ANY message to: Respond? Click 'Reply' or write to For further information about this list, contact the list administrator at: Rev. Fr. Eric J. Stefanski or visit our website: + + + + + +