Saint James UCC of Hamburg, NY

Galatians 2:15-21; Luke 7:36-50

Preached by Pastor Alva Looze
=================================================

Luke is the loveliest of all the Gospels. Luke was never one of the famous figures of the early Church. If he had not written the gospel no one would have attached it to his name. He was a Gentile and in Colossians 4: 14, it calls him "our dear doctor". Barclay tells us, "that ministers see men at their best; a lawyer sees men at their worst; and a doctor sees men as they are. Luke saw men and loved them all."

Luke gospel is the easiest to read and he was writing to people like us. Luke seems to have a very special place for women as we see it in our story of the woman who anointed Jesus' feet. According to the custom of the day, there were three things that always were done. The host, which would have been Simon should have placed his hand on the guest's shoulder and gave him the kiss of peace. Second since the roads were dusty and people wore strap sandals, cool water should have been poured over the guest's feet to cleanse and comfort them. Third either a pinch of sweet-smelling incense was burned or a drop of attar of rose was place on the guest's head. These things good manners demanded, and Simon had done none of these.

The dinner guests would have been reclining at tables in a courtyard of Simon's house. How the unnamed women got in we do not know but she comes in and is standing beside Jesus' feet. Women were not allowed at the table. Our scripture says she is a bad woman. Apparently she had listened to Jesus speak from the edge of the crowd and followed him to Simon's house. Round her neck she wore, like all Jewish women, a little phial of concentrated perfume; they were called alabasters; and were very costly. But as she saw him the tears came and fell upon his feet. She then washed his feet and dried them with her hair. A Jewish woman who let her hair down in public was unheard of. But the love that she had for Jesus shows us that she forgot all rules and regulations but her love.

Simon and the women, such a contrast in hospitality! Does this point out to us that we are called to be a community that offers hospitality. We are called to be a community that welcomes all people, knowing we all need forgiveness and grace. We are called to be a community that models healthy, trusting, creative relationships, and we might have to take risks.

The very nature of the Christian faith is that we are called to take risks, to step into uncomfortable territories and to be people who walk on the edge. We are also called to be a haven, a safe place. For our children and youth our life giving community is one that gives them the space to develop relationships with adults in an environment that will protect them until they are able to protect themselves. We want our children to know the church as a safe community. This community should offer an experience of grace through boundaries, limits, and the opportunity to be in relationships that have the potential to transform. There will always be that little one that causes a co monition and needs that special hug or discipline to let him/her know that you care.

Let us look at Jesus' hospitality - always life giving but it was also different for every individual he met. Some people he fiercely protected. To others, he offered a discomforting challenge to change. The ministry of hospitality takes many different forms.

Life-giving communities model healthy relationships. Offering hospitality doesn't mean that people are welcomed in with no expectations or boundaries. The best hospitality has very high expectations of people (and offers abundant grace when we are unable to live up to those expectations).

Every Christian community is given abundant gifts. The variety and diversity of gifts within a life-giving community remind us that not each of us is required to do everything or be everything. All of us are given the responsibility of caring and showing compassion, but we do that within our abilities.

In Jesus time, the most important thing you could do was making someone feel welcome. There were no hotels or restaurants in those days, and so people who were traveling needed to be able to count on others people providing hospitality to them. Some people thought that they only needed to offer hospitality to people they liked, but Jesus taught that we should offer hospitality to everyone, that's God's way.

From the United Church Press, "All people are made in the image of God. We believe that God reaches out to us in love and acceptance and calls us to do the same to others. As a community of faith, we are committed to provide safe places where all people are cared for, nurtured and sustained." The Evangelism Committee has had on going conversations about making people feel welcome. A few weeks ago we gave everyone a slip of paper to find out why they loved St. James. The overwhelming response was friendly and caring. Whether it is the handshake from the greeters, welcomers, the ushers, and/or the people sitting next to you in the pews. "All are welcomed here".

To be perfect in the Old Testament is an attainment of man; to be merciful is an attribute of God. Today we celebrate Father's Day. A time to remember our fathers, grandfathers, and those special men in our lives that are special to each of us. You fathers that are here this morning I congratulate you! Your children need to see you live Godly lives. You sons and daughters love your fathers, and appreciate them. For those of us whose fathers are gone, I'd like to close with a poem.

THE OPEN DOOR by Grace Coolidge
You, my father
Have shown me God.
Your kiss upon my cheek
Has made me feel the gentle touch
Of Him who leads us on.
The memory of your smile,
when shared Reveals His face,
As mellowing years come apace.
And when you went before,
You left the gates of heaven ajar
That I might glimpse,
Approaching from afar,
The glories of His grace.
Hold, father, my hand,
Guide me along the path,
That, coming,
I may stumble not,
Nor roam,
Nor fail to find the way
Which leads me home.

Our fathers are always there with us, and will be with our heavenly Father to greet us in our eternal home.

Prayer
Generous God, we give thanks for the banquet table that you have spread before all. Empower us to welcome, forgive, and heal others in your name so that they too may experience your gracious hospitality.

Amen