Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.’”
NL Daily Devotion for Wednesday, February 26, 2025
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
I don’t get to decide who is and isn’t a ‘sinner.’ Oh, sure, I’d like to. And if you read enough of my devotions, you can probably guess who I’d judge. But if I’m pointing out a speck in someone else’s eye you can bet your sweet bippy there’s a sequoia sticking out of mine.
Simon the Pharisee figured he had it all together and just the fact that Jesus was allowing this woman to touch him undermined any authority Jesus might have or claim to have. But of course Simon has it all wrong. Jesus is here for the ones that people like Simon have decided are “other.” And, then, you have to realize that it’s Simon who’s really the sinner in this scenario, for his failure to love his neighbor as himself. So by that logic, Jesus is there for Simon, too.
Bottom line: if I’m sure someone else is a ‘sinner’ I need to check myself, because at that moment, I’m the one sinning.
Who am I quick to judge? How does judging someone else judge me?
