Scripture: I Kings 19:1-15a; Luke 8:26-39

It is a question many of us ask when we hear the latest news or read the most current articles. How can people be so cruel . . . so heartless . . . towards one another? What is the motivating factor behind car bombs, drive-by shootings, and other acts of terrorism? In the midst of the second worst financial crisis in this country’s history, why did the CEO’s of some of our leading investment companies use the tragedy to increase their wealth by bankrupting the retirement funds of unsuspecting clients?  What about church officials – the preachers, priests, and other commissioned staff who use their power to exploit innocent children? 

As Christians, we are taught the best answers to life’s toughest questions are found in the Bible. Yet, when we open its pages in an attempt to constructively deal with the tragedies and corruption that surround us, what do we discover? Even more reports of destructive behavior that lead to unimaginable tragedies and corruption!

Today’s readings are a case in point. In the Gospel we hear about a Pharisee by the name of Simon who was convinced it was not only his right, it was his God-given obligation, to judge and condemn others. Simon took his position so seriously that when a repentant woman fell at the feet of Jesus, he refused to free her from her past so she could grow into the future.

In other words, he needed to keep her exactly where she was so he could continue feeling good about himself. One can almost imagine hearing him say:  Thank God I am not like her! And, in many ways, he was right. She was a sinner. The problem, however, was that Simon – and the entire religious world for that matter – had no intention of allowing her to be any different. Let’s face it, Simon was not only thankful he wasn’t like her, he was equally insistent and thankful that she would never be like him! He would see to it even if it meant misusing God’s holy laws to do so. 

But Jesus would have no part of it. As this sinful, yet repentant, woman bathed his feet with her tears, he turned and said:  Simon, I have something to say to you.

I have something to say to you. That was the exact message Elijah expressed to King Ahab when he set out to claim the ill-gotten vineyard of Naboth. Friends, one of the tragedies of this story that we often forget is that Ahab did not set out to be a murderer. He did, after all, make Naboth a very generous offer! He was willing to either buy the vineyard or trade it for an even better one. It was when his offer was rejected – it was when his ego was damaged and his power ignored – that the king began acting like a spoiled child. He sulked. He pouted. He refused to eat.  And it was all because he couldn’t have what he wanted.

Upon seeing her husband’s reaction, Jezebel vowed to obtain the vineyard regardless of the cost. As a result, she used not only the power of the king’s office to get her way, she also manipulated the power of God’s word in order to destroy another human being. 

Once Naboth was dead, the king set out to claim his prize. It was while he was on the road to the vineyard that Ahab ran up against Elijah – a prophet who had been sent by God to deliver an important message.  I have something to say to you.  You have sold yourself to do what is evil. . . (I King21:20b)

There is probably little comparison in our minds between Ahab and Jezebel’s plot to kill someone for a small piece of land and Simon’s judgmental attitude. But when we place these two stories side-by-side, what we discover is rather shocking. Whenever we deliberately use God’s holy laws for our own personal gain, whenever we act out of a sense of jealousy, power or greed, we have sold ourselves to do evil. 

Like Ahab and Simon, our greed and our desires will lead us down terrible paths. And what we must remember is that greed is not always for material things. Whenever we misuse our power as parents, spouses, employers, teachers, or even as disciples of Jesus Christ, whenever our emotional or material desires become the center of our focus, we have taken a giant step away from God. We are called to be faithful stewards of all God has given us. That means we must also be willing to either give up those things or share them with others when asked to do so by the One who welcomes us in and calls us “friends.” 

God is looking out on us today and knows what is really in our hearts and minds. God knows what is motivating our actions and understands the driving force of our lives. And, yes, God has something to say to each of us. The question is, are we willing to listen?

To God be the Glory!  Amen.