<html><body>Part 2<div><br></div><div><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> The greatest contrast here between
Simon and the Pharisees and the unnamed woman was that she, in the midst of her
loneliness and isolation, heard and accepted Jesus’ word. The Pharisees, the
ones in charge, the ones whose role in society was to show the love of God and
the longing of God to help people; those Pharisees were too busy trying to
protect their own power, their own money, their own property, their own
carefully cultivated relationships, that they didn’t want anyone or anything to
upset their applecart. They were willing to go to any lengths to keep their
exclusivity. They were trying to tell Jesus that He was just like that woman –
someone who deserved no respect no honour, none of their time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> The problem was that they’d made
their decision long before Jesus had any interaction
with the woman.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> How uncomfortable
this may make <b><u>US</u></b>. We’re not
perfect. Far from it. But still we’re tempted to put barriers between ourselves
and others – the ones who don’t seem to have the same interests.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> We’re to resist
these temptations as firmly as we can. No matter who the person may be, we’ve
to make sure that each hears clearly that Jesus’ love and the forgiving
compassion of God are offered without hesitation to everyone. This isn’t a club
with which to beat and humiliate people. On the other hand, it’s not supposed
to be the world’s best kept secret either. We <b><u>HAVE</u></b> to make sure that there’s no one who doesn’t at least
know that God loves all in creation. It is possibly through our actions, even
more than our words, as important as what we say is; it is through our actions
that we make it possible for all the women, all the men, all the children of
Albany to know that they’re loved and that they’re renewed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> It is what we do
in helping to open someone’s heart that allows the person to feel whole, to
feel valued, to feel welcome among all of God’s creatures. This is what is
important.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <b><u>WE</u></b> are given the incredible
privilege and responsibility of being the mediators of God’s love.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Sister Benedicta
Ward, of Harris Manchester College at the University of Oxford, wrote, “When
anyone discovers the healing fountains of conversion ( – the fact that God loves us no matter who we are
and what we’ve done – when anyone discovers the healing fountains of
conversion,) it is in some way through the gift of other people, and the waters
of life thus received overflow in their turn into the lives of others, to
fructify the deserts of human experience; it becomes a chain reaction, not only
for those who hear but for those who read about the event. At each stage there
are tears, not the tears of self-pity or remorse, but the lifegiving tears that
come from a heart suddenly open to life and love.” <sup>4</sup><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> All of this talks
to us about the way in which we’re to encourage people to know what it’s like
to be liberated. All of this is why we welcome Frances and Rhonda as they come
to stand before the water in a few minutes. Whether they understand everything
or not – and I suspect that Rhonda has picked up on this a little more than
Frances! – Jesus is holding out His hand in welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> I think, though,
that, even at three months, Frances has an understanding of what the atmosphere
of love is about.</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">
Apparently she calms down and relaxes in interest when she hears us sing about
God, and God’s love for us, and of our love for God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Who knows how the Spirit works in
the lives of different people. It’s enough to know that the Spirit is present
in and for us all. All the Spirit has to produce from us is a heartfelt “Thank
you, Jesus!” Oh, and a remembrance of how were to make it possible for other
Franceses and Rhondas to come to know what it’s like to be loved and admired by
the God who created us all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> At a meeting last week, Presiding
Bishop Michael said, “The Baptismal Covenant’s vows to follow Jesus is ‘not
rhetorical flourish’ (it’s not empty words) but instead is ‘Christian witness and Christian witness which is particularly needed in our
time.” <sup>5</sup> We have to address bigotry which would keep people apart.
We have to talk about and correct anything which would prevent everyone from
finding their fullest potential. Above all, we have to make it possible for
everyone to hear the message of love and reconciliation and to come within the
saving embrace of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Whether it’s in
coming to water with Rhonda and Frances, or in any other way with any other
people, we’re to learn the power of liberation just as the woman did in Simon’s
town, and to cry in joy and thankfulness with those who meet Jesus. The
promises we’ll renew in a minute <b><u>CAN</u></b>
and <b><u>MUST</u></b> bear this witness
through our lives. That’s what it’s all about.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NOTES:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <i>“Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes”</i> by
Kenneth E. Bailey, IVF Academic, Downers Grove, Ill. © 2008, page 242.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"">2</span></span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <i>“Tafir
al-Mashriqi”</i> by Ibn al-Tyyib, ed. Yusif Manqariyos. Egypt: Al-Tawfiq Press,
1907, 2:129. Quoted by Bailey, Op. cit., page 242.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">3</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Bailey,
Op. cit, page 243.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">4</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <i>“Harlots of the Desert”</i> by Benedicta
Ward. Cistercian Publications, © 1987 quoted by Sazanne Guthrie “At the Edge of the Enclosure: Soulwork
Towards Sunday: Self-Guided Retreat Proper 6 c ‘… but that she wept …’ 12<sup>th</sup>
June, 2016 Suzanne Guthrie <a href="http://www.edgeofenclosure.org/proper6c.html">http://www.edgeofenclosure.org/proper6c.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">5</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <i>“<span style="color:#333333;mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold">Times need Christian witness of Episcopal Church, Curry tells council. </span><span style="color:#333333">Executive Council also faces budgets, Haiti and personnel
issues”</span></i><b><span style="color:#333333"> </span></b><span class="fn">By
Mary Frances Schjonberg</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="date">June 8, 2016</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> <a href="http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2016/06/08/times-need-christian-witness-of-episcopal-church-curry-tells-council/">http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2016/06/08/times-need-christian-witness-of-episcopal-church-curry-tells-council/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>