The Third Sunday of Pentecost

June 17, A.D. 2007


Keeping Good Company with Saints and Sinners


Our society has a rather unhealthy interest and fascination in the personal lives of the rich and famous, especially when their lives take a tumble for the worst. For example, consider that media space could have been much more beneficial to have reported some of the good things that are happening in our dark world, like stories about school children who are writing letters to our armed forces abroad, rather than ludicrous and minutely detailed reports of the recent events in the life of Paris Hilton. I was quite astonished to hear that yet again, there is a newly published book about Princess Diana. It seems that she will never be allowed to rest in peace, much less how it will affect the lives of Princes William and Harry. The advertisement for this particular book called Princess Diana “Saint in Public, Sinner in Private.” Perhaps that is true, but honestly, isn’t that the princesses’ concern and not ours? But, quite honestly, could not that be said about every one of us: Saint in Public, Sinner in Private. There is probably no one more outspoken on the subject of sin than Dr. Martin Luther. He put it well when he stated that we are “simultaneous saint and sinner.” I think we would have to admit that we are more comfortable with the saint side rather than the sinner side. I find it interesting that the first Sunday of November is All Saint’s Sunday. It might put things in better perspective if the second Sunday of November was All Sinners Sunday. Sin is something we have to honestly admit and honestly deal with, and we are all in the same boat. So, we are keeping good company with both saints and sinners. Dr. Luther once wrote: “We poor human beings are blinded and corrupted through sin to such a degree that we are unable sufficiently to comprehend our own trouble and defect, otherwise we would guard and protect ourselves far more carefully against sins. For we observe in ourselves and other people that we consider sin a very slight hurt, nay, more than that, we love sin and delight in sin.” That certainly goes in tandem with a book published some years ago entitled: “What Ever Happened to Sin?” Dear hearts, sin is still around and, yes, we are simultaneous saints and sinners. By the way, Dr. Luther also once wrote that: “if you are going to sin, sin boldly.” I always find great comfort in that. Today’s lessons certainly address the subject of sin. Here is King David, champion of Israel, God’s beloved anointed, writer of music and Psalms, who literally steals Uriah’s wife, known as Bathsheba, and then arranges to have Uriah, one of his most faithful and devoted generals, killed in battle in order to cover things up. In comes Nathan the prophet with a parable of a person who stole and slaughtered someone else’s pet lamb. David, in pious self-righteousness, was furious and declared that the perpetrator deserves to die. Nathan points his finger at David and says, “You are the man.” Isn’t it interesting that sinners are often more eager to point fingers at other sinners rather than themselves. David finally admits “I have sinned before the Lord,” to which Nathan replies “Now the Lord has put away your sin.” Then, in today’s Gospel, Jesus is the guest of honor at the home of a Pharisee. It is to Jesus’ credit that he accepted the invitation since the Pharisees were the ones who were constantly sticking their noses in the air and piously asking the disciples: “Why does your rabbi eat with tax collectors and sinners.” Much to the Pharisee’s horror, a woman comes in, crashes the party, begins to weep, to cover Jesus’ feet with tears, to wipe them with her hair, and then anoints him with a tremendously expensive ointment. The Pharisee piously and self righteously says 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!” How easy it is to point pious fingers at someone else. Please note that when a pious finger is pointed at someone else, Jesus, too, gets slandered and demeaned. Of course Jesus knew who this terribly sinful woman was. He turns to the pious Pharisee and says: “I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one whom little is forgiven loves little.” And then he says to the woman: “Your sins are forgiven; your faith has saved you, go in peace.” As Jesus knew the woman, Jesus also knows us. He knows what that we are like St. Paul who wrote: “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it but sin that dwells within me? And then St. Paul writes: “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” And then, he answers his own question: “But thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.” My brothers and sisters in Christ, we like David, we like the sinful woman, we like St. Paul are, yes sinners. But, we like David, like the sinful woman and like St. Paul receive the forgiveness and the peace that comes to us from the heart of God. It is only when we become like the Pharisee, pointing everywhere except at ourselves, that we don’t know the joy of being a saint at the same time that we are a sinner. Our baptism into Christ places the life of God squarely within our souls, and it is that life that St. Paul refers to when he tells us: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me, and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who love me and gave himself for me.” Dr. Luther succinctly describes this life in the Small Catechism: ”Baptism effects forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and grants eternal salvation to all who believe, as the Word and promise of God declare. It signifies that the old Adam in us, together with all sins and evil lusts, should be drowned by daily sorrow and repentance and be put to death, and that the new person should come forth daily and rise up, cleansed and righteousness, to live forever in God’s presence.” Saints, then, are simply sinners who live in the constant presence of God’s love and forgiveness. Sinners then, are simply saints who have been marked with the cross of Christ and sealed with the Holy Spirit forever. Several weeks ago we and the Parkers went to Grace Cathedral to hear a very dear old friend, Gerre Hancock, and his wife Judith, play an organ concert. Gerre, affectionately known as “Uncle Gerre” is a great improviser, and he can make your heart and soul soar through his incredibly stunning spontaneous music. He gets the themes for his improvisation on the spot and I have heard him say “You don’t know what you are going to hear because I don’t know what I am going to play!” When teaching improvisation he says that, “if you really get in trouble, if the melodies and harmonies aren’t working, if you are headed to a musical disaster, just remember: Salvation is only a half step away.” For saints and sinners, salvation and forgiveness is only a half step away – simply a half step in the direction of the risen Christ, who, like the Father of the prodigal son, runs down the road in our direction, and before we can even blurt out what we have done wrong, forgives us and welcomes us home. In the words of Brother Roger of Taize let us pray: “Bless us, Lord Christ; by your forgiveness you place on our finger the ring of the prodigal son.”