God Holds a High Bar: The Highest Bar is at the Foot of the Cross

What is your image or reflection when we sing in worship:  “We fall down.  We lay our crowns at the feet of Jesus.  The greatness of mercy and love at the feet of Jesus”?  I think of standing at the foot of the cross – especially that massive cross in Trinity’s sanctuary.  Standing at the foot of that cross and looking up is overwhelming:  my smallness and its massive vertical and horizontal beams holding up the highest point of the sanctuary.  It’s just rough enough to remind me of the sacrifice of Jesus being nailed to it.  I am humbled at the abundance of love that God has for all the people of the world that we receive forgiveness, grace, and mercy over and over again.  Mercy unlimited.

The woman in Luke 7: 36-50 brought an exorbitantly expensive perfume to anoint Jesus’ feet and wipe his dusty feet with her hair as Jesus dined at the house of Simon the Pharisee.  She was not welcomed by Simon and his guests who whisper insults about her even as Jesus welcomes her – forgives her – receives her gift of love. 

Where would we sit at this table of hospitality – or more accurately, inhospitality?  Do we join with Simon and the others to exclude, ignore, walk past, deride, and cast out people who we perceive as sinners?  The immigrants, women, African or Asian Americans, Muslims, divorced, adulterers, pregnant and unmarried, addicts, homeless, and those who we consider too young or too old.  Who are the last, lonely, least whom we fear?

Or have you been the outcast – the invisible person – the sinner in need of forgiveness – the one who needs healing – the lost, last, or lonely?  Do you feel welcome at the table, in the sanctuary, or in fellowship? 

The good news of God’s forgiveness and God’s hospitality is that it extends to us all.  We’re all welcome at the foot of the cross.  We’re all invited to shed the chains that bind us and instead celebrate the mercy which binds us together in love.  Who have you invited to join you at the foot of the cross where God’s high bar of forgiveness awaits?

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Shelley