This morning’s scripture lesson both confirms that statement and negates it.

Author and minister Bruce Larson shared a story in one of his books about doing the funeral for a member of his congregation. The man had been a long time member who was eminently successful in business. Yet at the time of his death, his earthly possessions could all fit in a brown paper sandwich bag. His belongings were a Bible, a pen & pencil, a ring, a pocketknife and a wallet.

There were several other things that the man owned, but they weren’t in the brown paper bag. These other things were outstanding loans. Not loans that he had to pay, but rather loans that were to be paid to him. You see, this man spent a good part of his life helping people who couldn’t pay him back. So he had a lot of unpaid loans which he had given to people.

Some people would look at these loans as Acts of Extravagance, others would look at these loans as Acts of Foolishness. What do you say they are?

Our scripture lesson confronts us with a similar choice. An act of extravagance, or an act of foolishness. How do you see it?

A Pharisee whose name is Simon, had invited Jesus to his house for a meal. You have to wonder what’s up with that. Jesus was not going to win any Man of the Year honors from the religious leaders. They looked at Jesus with suspicion and contempt. I suppose you really can’t blame them since Jesus had a habit of contrasting the religious leaders to sinners.

Just why Simon, invited Jesus, to his house can only be left up to speculation. He might have been looking to find out Jesus’ weakness. Maybe he was sincerely interested in what Jesus had to say. Perhaps he was hoping Jesus would say something blasphemous and Simon could have him arrested. Whichever the case may be, Simon did not see Jesus as an equal.

This fact can be established by taking a good look at Jesus’ response to Simon’s reaction to Jesus allowing the sinful woman to kiss him and wash his feet and anoint him.

Jesus responds by pointing out that Simon, the Pharisee had committed several social blunders.

"Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with anointment."

Simon neglected a courtesy extended to guests, the washing of the feet, anointing the head with oil, and offering him the kiss of greeting. Simon ridiculed Jesus for allowing such a woman to touch him.

"If this man was a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him - that she is a sinner."

Simon saw this sinful woman’s actions as Acts of Foolishness.

Jesus defends this sinful woman, not because she has extended the common courtesies that Simon should have offered. Jesus defends her because of her actions. Jesus saw them as Acts of Extravagance which demonstrate her faith and love for Jesus.

"Then Jesus said to her,
"Your sins are forgiven."

What do your actions say about you and your love for God?

The Pharisee knew much about religion, about liturgies, about ethics, about God’s law. He knew much, yet so little. Somehow he missed the essence of it all. The woman, knew little if anything about religion, liturgies, ethics, and God’s law, yet she knew more than the Pharisee. She knew the essence of God’s love.

Overflowing love is the natural response to forgiveness and the consequences of faith. But only those who realize the depths of their sin can appreciate the complete forgiveness God offers them. Jesus has rescued all of His followers, whether they were once extremely wicked or conventionally good.

The cross testifies to you and me the extent to which Jesus went to rescue us. Some say His death on the cross was an act of foolishness, others say it was an act of extravagance. What do you say?

You and I are called to answer that question every day of our life, with the words we speak or don’t speak, with the acts of love done or left undone.

The cross, an act of extravagance or foolishness?

What do you say?

amen

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