Paint Party Friday: Love Much!

 "Little is forgiven the one whose love is small." Luke 7:47

What a dramatic turn of events in this chapter of Luke! Simon, a Pharisee, invites Jesus to dinner at his home. Jesus accepts, and as He reclines at the table, his legs and feet stretched out away from the table, a woman of some reputation comes uninvited. She is weeping, and she uses her hair to wipe away the dirt and grime of Jesus' feet. She opens her precious perfumed oil in its alabaster vase, and uses it on Jesus' feet. I can imagine Simon, with a little sneer on his mouth. He is a little amused by this, too entertained to put a stop to this intrusion in his home. He should have had her thrown out for her impertinence, but he likes seeing this so-called prophet and teacher being pampered by a "sinner"! During the first century, if a woman let down her hair, she could be divorced by her husband, and here, this woman, not only uncovered her hair, but was using her tresses to wipe Jesus' feet! If this man was really wise, he should know what sort of woman she was and would not have allowed her to touch him!!!!

 But of course, Jesus knows everything Simon is thinking, all the nuances, and He also knows what the woman is thinking and feeling and going through. Just as He knows our heart and mind as well! Oh the shame! Jesus sees all the condemnation and judgement in our mind. The lack of love in our heart. He knows when we look at others with indifference, when there is no charity in our spirit for others who need our help. What did Jesus say? "Little is forgiven the one whose love is small." Do we want to be forgiven? Then we have to tap into the well of love that God has for us and for all sinners like us. We need to see ourselves and others the way God sees us. Then there will be no room for condemnation, only compassion.

 "The twelve accompanied Him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and maladies..." Luke 8:1-2

My mom used to tell me a story of how one of her brothers had 7 demons, and her father, who had one angel, exorcised every one of those demons. I do not know how true this story was, because she was a little girl when it supposedly happened. No matter how we like to dismiss the reality of demons and angels, there is another dimension that affects our lives even if we believe in it or not. Paul told the Ephesians that "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Who were these women who accompanied Jesus and the twelve disciples? There is Mary Magdalene, from whom He cast out 7 demons. There is Joanna, who was the wife of King Herod's Chief financial officer, a wealthy woman of the court. There was also Susanna. We can assume they were following and listening to Jesus because He had freed them from sickness, or some addiction or bondage. What do we need to be free of? Sometimes we cannot do it on our own, no matter how many self help books we read. No matter how many times we speak to a psychiatrist. Have we tried everything to break free? In the 9th chapter of Mark, Jesus advises the disciples that there are evil spirits that can only be driven out by fasting and prayer. We are not handicapped believers. We have tools and we have the victory in Christ against whatever forces the enemy arrays against us. "No weapon formed against us shall prosper!"(Isaiah 54:17) Let us believe it!

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