People's Prayers: PRAYERS of the People: Saving Faith ~ 6th Sunday after the Epiphany, WLWC* Yr C

For Sunday, February 16, 2025; Readings: Numbers 5:11-24, 27-28; Psalm 7:1-8, 14-17;

1 Corinthians 7:1-17, Luke 7:36-50

Now the JUDGE OF ALL FLESH spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the women and men of Israel and say to them: If the wife of any man goes astray…and she has rendered herself unacceptable…or if a spirit of jealousy comes on him…and she has not rendered herself unacceptable…Then the man shall bring his wife to the priest and he shall bring the offering for her…it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of remembrance…of iniquity. Then the priest shall bring her near and set her before the JUDGE OF ALL THE EARTH… [Numbers 5:11ff]

SHELTERING ONE my God, in you I take refuge; save me from all who pursue me and deliver me… Rise up, THUNDERING GOD, in your anger; raise up in opposition to the wrath of my enemies; wake on my behalf the justice you have appointed… His troublemaking returns upon his own head, and on his head does their violence descend. ...I will give thanks to the JUDGE OF ALL FLESH according to her righteousness, and I shall sing praise to the Name of the HOLY GOD, the Most High. [Psalm 7:1, 6, 16-17]

Now, about what you have written: It is good for a man not to take hold of a woman. But because of sexual immorality, each man should have his own woman and each woman her own man. For the wife, the husband should do his duty and likewise the wife for her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, rather the husband does; likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, yet the wife does…However let us each walk through life as the Holy One has designated and as God has called them. This is what I instruct all the churches. [1 Corinthians 7:1-4, 17]

Now one of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him…And suddenly, a woman who was in the city [known as] a sinner…brought… perfumed ointment...began with her tears to bathe his feet and with the hairs of her head dried them…the Pharisee said to himself, “If this man was ever a prophet, he would know…what kind of woman this is...touching him… a sinner…” Then Jesus replied [to his thoughts] and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you…” Jesus said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; water for my feet you gave not…No kiss [of peace]…Oil for my head you did not prepare…That is why I say to you, forgiven are her sins…And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” [Luke 7:36-50]

I must say upfront that this was certainly the most challenging set of readings I’ve ever encountered as I head toward the completion of 4 sets of Years A, B, & C later this year. Of course, as Dr. Gafney intentionally provides us with non-Revised Common Lectionary readings, therein lies an explanation. As there is much in the first lesson from Numbers alone that requires detailed explanation, I will offer some, given the space I am using. I will always encourage you to read the texts in these lessons in the translation you prefer as a comparison to her translations, and in particular, to acquire, if you don’t already have, an annotated study Bible that has explanatory footnotes. You can find them on used book websites fairly inexpensively.

The reading from Numbers offers us some insight to one particular ancient ritual that is sometimes referred to as “the jealousy offering” or “the ordeal of bitter water.” It’s all about a man deciding that his wife has been unfaithful with no evidence. So, he takes her to the priest for this “test” to prove whether or not she has rendered herself unacceptable or he is jealous…and she has rendered herself not unacceptable. There is symbolic use of the dust, holy water, and having her hair unbound…all to test the woman’s truth-telling. According to several sources, there was nothing biologically harmful. While this text says it contains that which, if guilty, the woman’s womb will swell and she’ll be forever infertile, it is considered to be a highly unlikely outcome. It puts me in mind of the Salem and other Witch Trials. THAT SAID, with its symbolism and drama it was a useful protection against what we would call today domestic violence or spousal abuse based on jealousy, and while most who were tested proved “innocent,” presumably, if by sheer nervousness alone, some would have been considered guilty by which her husband could have legally thrown her out to the proverbial wolves, murdered her, or have her executed. Hmmm, can you say misogyny? BUT, some ancient Jewish commentators suggest that the curse may well have worked against an adulterous male. Yet I wonder how often might a woman be strong and fearless enough to bring such a charge? Although it is an ancient ritual, it has its parallels in later and ongoing history into our own day.

Dr. Gafney tells us in her text notes that while some translations of the psalm use gender neutral language, she has intentionally kept the masculine singular because of the binary framework of the text. As always she uses expansive titles for God, expressed in all capital letters, and the occasional feminine pronoun.

And then there’s Paul…it is important to reiterate, that Paul wrote letters to specific churches for specific reasons that may or may not apply in our own times even though they have been, by some, raised high above the Gospel writers. Dr. Gafney writes, “Neither Greek nor Hebrew has distinct words for wives or husbands,” rather both simply use “’her man’ and ‘his woman’ in ‘conjugal relationships.’” Therefore, it isn’t clear if Paul is speaking about all men or all people.

In the passage from Luke, no actual sin is named but in the world of the ancients all the way to today, it suggests that as a female her sin is more likely considered to be sexual in nature. Jesus, especially in Luke, had close relationships with women and men in his circle. And speaks quite directly to his host, the Pharisee, as to why “this woman” has offered him more hospitality than the host. The ending of this reading is our beginning, that is, through Jesus, she was and we are each saved by our faith.

The combination of all these texts offer us an opportunity to examine how we read them, what our first reactions are, how do these expose our own biases to us, and how the cultural, sexual, stereotypical, and other influences of our lives change our perceptions of what lessons we are to imitate or ignore. Reading other translations and paraphrases (not direct translations but a reframing in modern language such as The Message or The Living Bible, etc.) can show us similarities and differences. For a quick look, use BibleGateway.com. Something else to read is the Gospel of Luke in this week’s Revised Common Lectionary: Luke 6:17-26, a differing version of Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount [Matthew 5:1-12] and on a different occasion and known as Blessings and Woes.

Let us breathe deeply, contemplate our earthly wants, worries, triggers, and tranquilities, as we move forward one step at a time strengthening and saving faith.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ SHELTERING ONE, our God, remind us to always take our refuge in and gather around you, especially in the midst of fear for ourselves and others in life’s troubling times. Judge us all by our righteousness and integrity, as we give thanks and praise to our HOLY GOD, the Most High.

Holy and ALL-SEEING GOD