ASK (a.k.a The On-Ramp)
- Do you know what an optical illusion is?
- That’s right! It’s when we see something that doesn’t actually exist.
- Here’s an example – try to look at the white dots:
- If you look at just one of the white dots, that dot is white, right?
- But what do you see all around that white dot?
- Black dots, right? Or maybe gray or even red dots.
- But when you look to where those black dots are, are they actually there?
- No, they are not. Every dot is actually a white dot.
- That’s one type of illusion -- where our eyes play tricks on us.
TELL (a.k.a. The Freeway)
- So in today’s scripture story, there’s a person who is like an optical illusion –
his name is Simon the Pharisee.
- At first, Simon looks like a pretty nice guy.
- He invited Jesus over for a meal. That was nice of him, right?
- And, Simon was a Pharisee, which was a type of a religious leader. That makes him
sound like a good guy, too, doesn’t it?
- But then we learn that Simon doesn’t at all like the woman who washes Jesus’ feet
with her tears, ointment, and hair.
- And, even though washing someone’s feet with their hair sounds strange, in that time
and place it would’ve been even stranger that Jesus’ feet were still dirty.
- Because, when Jesus first came into Simon’s house, Simon, the host should have washed
Jesus’ feet, but he didn’t.
- So, Simon the Pharisee LOOKS like a nice guy, but that’s just an optical illusion
SHARE the Good News (a.k.a. The Destination)
- Here’s the important thing, though: Thinking about Simon as an optical illusion
can easily make us think we are better than Simon the Pharisee.
- But, the better thing for us to do is to not pay attention to an optical illusion,
but to pay attention to what is real – the gifts that God is offering us all the
time.
- Which is why the woman washes Jesus’ feet – she is giving what she’s received and
is thankful for what she’s received.
- And, that is why Jesus then tells a brief story to Simon about two people who receive
gifts of free money from a banker.
- Because, just like that banker, God is giving us free gifts every day.
- And, the more we receive these gifts of love, grace and mercy, the more love, grace
and mercy we can share with those around us every day, just like the woman did with
Jesus in today’s story.
- And that is the Good News for today
CLOSING Prayer
- Let’s pray. This is a repeat-after-me prayer.
Dear God,
Dear God,
Thank you for Jesus ...
Thank you for Jesus ...
…who helps us to see and receive...
…who helps us to see and receive...
…your gifts…
…your gifts…
…of love, mercy and forgiveness...
…of love, mercy and forgiveness...
…so that we can share your gifts with others.
…so that we can share your gifts with others.
Thank you and Amen
Originally posted May 16, 2013.
Updated on May 20, 2016
Written and edited by Nathanael
Vissia
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