I wrote about her last year, but I think of her every year at Eastertime. We also happen to be studying the book of Luke this year at church ~ both in the sermons on Sunday, and in our mid-week small groups. That’s where you find her story. The story of the sinful woman. The one who anointed Jesus’ feet with perfume, tears, and her hair. The one whom Jesus said loved much because she had been forgiven much.
There’s a Pharisee in the story, too, and it’s his house where all of this takes place. He did NOT anoint Jesus’ feet. He didn’t even give Jesus water for His feet or oil for His head. And he disdained the woman. He even disdained Jesus for allowing this sinful woman to be near Him ~ questioned His “prophet” status.
“So, which one do you identify with most?” we asked ourselves in our small group meeting. “Simon, the Pharisee,” was the unanimous answer, but obviously not the desired identification for a group of Christ followers.
“Then how do we cultivate a heart like the woman’s?” Robert asked.
Silence.
“Confession,” I said.
And not because I faithfully engage in that spiritual discipline, but because I’ve learned from years of desiring to be like the woman, that achieving her level of humility and gratitude requires it. Whenever I do practice confession, this perfectionistic-good-girl-who-requires-less-forgiveness-than-those-big-sinners receives a gentle awakening of her equal need for grace and a deepening of gratitude for the cross.
We try to do a few special things with our kids during Holy Week. Usually that involves our Redemption Timeline, a Passover Seder, and a few other things. Last year we fasted from sweets during Holy Week, and fasted from food for all of Good Friday afternoon ~ 11am to 6pm. This is not a huge denial of self, I know, but we just wanted the kids to take a baby step toward being mindful of the events of the last week of Jesus’ life. We also watched The Passion of the Christ with them for the first time. (Kayla and a friend watched the kid’s Jesus Film instead!)
This year we hung the timeline, worked through it a bit, and added a few other remembrances. We all sat down and read/listened to The History of Redemption ~ a WONDERFUL book and special gift from a special group Amherst College students from church.
And this morning we had a time of confession.
After breakfast we read 1 John 1:9 and the story of the Pharisee and the woman. We talked about how no one is really forgiven “much” or “little”, but that it’s those who are aware of their need ~ like the woman ~ who have a great love for Jesus and desire to worship Him.
Then, all children (there were a few extras here today!) and grownups spread all over the house and for 15 minutes engaged in private confession. Robert encouraged them to not “go digging around” for all of the “bad” things they had ever done, but rather to ask the Lord to reveal the things in their life that need to be confessed.
How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit! When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.
I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD” ; and You forgave the guilt of my sin…
…Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; and shout for joy all you who are upright in heart.
Psalm 32: 1-5
Everyone reported back that it was a good experience, and I prayed for myself, for Robert, and for our kiddos, that over our sin we would continually experience the “sorrow that is according to the will of God” which leads not to death and discouragement like worldly sorrow, but to “repentance without regret….salvation.” (2Cor. 7:10)
And to loving Him much.