Luke continues the theme of forgiveness as a special gift of God that is shared with us. The Pharisee Simon's dinner party serves as a unique teaching moment for Jesus. When a certain woman arrives, one known for more than holiness of life, it seems, the feelings of the host become quite evident. He is caught in a quandary. Jesus is there and known to have dinner with sinners. And one of "them" comes into the party. The host is most uncomfortable ... worried, no doubt, about what his friends are thinking. Surely they are waiting for him to toss the gal out of the party. When the time was right --- pow! Jesus lowers the sledge hammer. The sinner had carried out all of the signs of hospitality and welcome that the host had either forgotten or did not have time to address.
Recall the story of a young grad student who was walking cross country to support a program that helped the need at his university. One Sunday he stopped at a local church for services. Once into the "sanctuary," he realized there was "no room in the inn" of pews nor the hearts of those sitting in them. So he proceeds to walk up the center aisle, sitting down in the aisle not too far from the front row of pews. Because he had the "look" of a cross country traveler (unshaven, rather dirty etc), heads began to turn. The preacher, in the midst of his sermon, became unsettled. Obviously the congregation was ill at ease. Muffled coughs interrupted the sermonizing. What were the silent words being spoken in all the hearts and minds there? "We are respectful people not like this tramp!" Then one of the elders of the congregation came down from his front and center special chair. He was speaking his silent acknowledgment of the young man's desire to worship together with the congregation. He proceeded to the young man. Of course the crowd was cheering in their hearts. "He will usher the man out!" The elder then turns around and sits on the floor beside the young man. Image the silent thoughts going through the minds of the "prayers." The elder was living his life as he believed it should be lived: living as Jesus as taught --- showing welcome, care and concern ... compassion.
The Korean martyrs celebrated in the liturgy today could easily have been people who had little interest in dealing with those Buddhists around them. Easily they could have said, we don't want this kind of person in our churches!
One of the questions that comes up in reflecting on this gospel: is the opposition to immigrants more than "breaking the law" sentiments? Is it more a question of dealing with people who are different than I am, than we are?
