7/28/2019 Sermon "Studies in Vulnerability" Alan Neale

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Sermon preached at The Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia, SundayJune 16th

The Reverend Alan Neale , Studies in Vulnerability

The woman, who was a sinner stood behind Jesus at his feet Luke 7:38

Last week I preached about well, let me ask you can you remember the theme oflast weeks sermon? It was vulnerability.

In microcosm, this just now was a study in vulnerability. Maybe I was a little hesitantto ask lest it be confirmed that the sermon and the preaching made no effect andmaybe one or two of you felt more than vulnerable to let your voice be heard in thissacred building with maybe not the correct answer.

Last week I discovered that the preacher (cest moi) had forgotten to switch on hismicrophone so the sermon was poorly recorded and several groups simply could nothear the sermon (though Im not convinced whether they looked for congratulation orcommiseration). Why was it, I think, that nobody called out, Your mikes not on?

In microcosm, again, a study in vulnerability.

Maybe, perhaps, the whole of life, each of our lives today, is filled with the ebb andflow, the flux, of windows of vulnerability. Some are forced, enjoined upon uswhereas others begin to approach us with increasingly recognizable shape andthen we either embrace or refuse them. What do you think?

Todays Gospel (Luke 7:36 8:3) is truly a study in vulnerability first Jesus and thenthe anonymous but notorious woman.

Jesus. Jesus accepts the invitation of a Pharisee to eat at his house. Was this a navefly being enticed into yet another trap of the religious spiders of the day? Only a fewdays earlier the Pharisees (in Luke 6) had tried to seduce Jesus into breaking the Law should the disciples pluck grains to eat on a Sabbath? Should a man be healed on aSabbath? Jesus was in no doubt as to the legalistic trickeries and the cleversophistries of the Pharisaical mind and yet there he goes striding, no flying, intothe spiders web, vulnerable indeed.

Jesus. You, I, cannot believe that Jesus was unaware of the woman behind him; hesurely knew of her presence and also of her past (as the Message Translation

describes her, she was the town harlot); doubtless the ointment had beenpurchased by fees paid to a prostitute. And this woman was touching Jesus; God savethe devout Jew from being touched by a woman let alone a woman of dubiousmorals. And yet, he continues to recline and seemingly enjoy the feast set before him though vulnerable indeed.

Jesus. This stunningly beautiful scene (recounted in several Gospels) is alive, shotthrough, maybe even pulsating with sensuality as this woman touches, rubs, anointshis feet, kisses them and then wipes them with her hair (I assume this was no Keira

7/28/2019 Sermon "Studies in Vulnerability" Alan Neale

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Knightly pixie cut). Yet Jesus does not command the woman to desist, he does notreact with aggrieved sanctimony she continues leaving Jesus vulnerable indeed.

And then the woman. What person with blood in their veins, with warmth in theirheart cannot but admire, respect, be moved by this woman who risking all, is readyto endure, to bear, to stomach the probable ignominy of ensuing humiliation andostracism of vulnerability? If this womans desperate love, if her wanton affectiondoes not warm the readers heart then that heart is wretchedly cold indeed. Do youagree?

(John 12:3 the aroma of the perfume filled the whole house.)

What enabled, what mobilized, what empowered the woman to act as she did? Whatgave her the resolve to don so boldly the garments of vulnerability?

She did this because first Jesus had shown by deed (often by word) that he was theone whose birth, life and death would be characterized by vulnerability. Thisapparent weakness of soul, this psychic flaw became in the person of Jesus the most

attractive, ennobling, liberating, saving strength that somehow by osmosispermeated the deepest being of those who chose to be as close to him as possible.

And look, behold what ensues! The womans vulnerability is not abused by Jesus butrather leads to forgiveness and dignity.

It is sometimes said that we are as sick as our secrets what do you think? Oursecrets, our buried lives persuade us to be vulnerable will end in ruin, isolation,despair and darkness its always best to be cautious, circumspect and guarded. Webury these secrets, disguise them as best we can, but in doing we run from theinevitability of vulnerability and we run into the arms of unhealthy control anddysfunctional direction of others and of our lives.

Here is the classic theological story of salvation re-told in psychotherapeutic mode,the story made no less historical because it is made starkly relevant.

We come to Jesus as vulnerable (sinners) knowing that His vulnerability(woundedness) will protect us, keep us from harm and nourish us.

And whenever we choose to halt the flow of vulnerability, refuse surrender, so wechoose to stifle our spiritual lives; we become harsh, stoic, cynical and embittered.

What vulnerability can we offer to Jesus today as a sign of our love and affection?

Will you, will I, consider a ready willingness to share at cost some of our possessions,our talents, our time?

Will you, will I, refuse to live in shadows and fear of light and come clean withapologies to others and to the Lord?

7/28/2019 Sermon "Studies in Vulnerability" Alan Neale

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Treading, though hesitantly, this path of vulnerability will always cause us to hearthese words and experience them (as the childrens hymn says) down, down, downin my heart

Your sins are forgiven; your faith has saved you. Go in peace.

AMEN