At the University of Notre Dame in 1981 a rather prophetic lecture was given that predicted the collapse of the Soviet Union. The lecturer called Communism “a sad, bizarre chapter in human history whose last pages are even now being written." A year later the same speaker told the British House of Commons that the march of freedom and democracy "will leave Marxism-Leninism on the ash heap of history." Years later, in 1988, students at Moscow University sat and listened as this same speaker told them how the microchip would lead the way in expanding human freedom. Indeed, even that prediction is coming true. The Internet may be playing a critical role in dismantling china’s communism. Remember now that this 1988, long before the advent of the Internet.

Who was this Speaker? This lecturer who looked into the future and was able to rightly discern where history was taking us? It was Ronald Reagan. Putting political preferences aside for just a moment I think all of us would have to agree that on at least a few crucial issues Reagan got it right. He looked into the future and steered us correctly. What is it that gives some people the ability to look at a situation and rightly sized it up? It seems to be a kind of gift doesn’t it?

This is one of the qualities that separate the great men from the ordinary. In our story this morning (in Luke 7) certain insights are being expressed. A gathering of men at a diner party has just witnessed a woman, who they all know to be a woman of ill repute, walk into the room with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume. She walks up behind Jesus and kneels. She is crying. As she weeps her tears fall onto his feet. She uses her hair as a towel to dry his feet and then she pours the expensive perfume on his feet. This is the scene and it is a sudden departure from the evening’s festivities. But it now becomes the focal point of Jesus’ teachings.

Now, listen to how the Pharisee sizes up the situation. He has two insights. On the first he is correct and on the second he is incorrect. Here they are: First he is correct about the lady. She was known in the community as a sinner. Her sin is not revealed to us but most of us could come pretty close in guessing it. What ever it was the Pharisee rightly judged the woman’s character. But here is where he failed. His insights and perceptions about Jesus were wrong. He said that if Jesus were a prophet he would know that this woman was a sinner and he would not let her touch him.

The Pharisee was wrong because the character of this woman was not lost on Jesus. And here is the beautiful part of the passage. Jesus knew who she was but he had moved beyond that to forgive the woman her sins. Jesus sizes up the situation and recognizes that grace is needed in this woman’s life.

Now let’s ask ourselves this question. Whether we are looking at an incredibly destructive institution like communism or the loathsome practice of prostitution, whatever sin we find in the world are we able to l0ok beyond the facts, size up the situation, see down the road and know what kind of grace is needed? We can do this if we can:

I

Be honest and call sin, sin. The great pianist, Paderewski, had a friend whose little girl was going to give a piano recital. Out of respect for his friend, Paderewski accepted the girl's invitation to her recital. When she saw the famous pianist in the audience, she got stage fright, forgot her piece, and broke down in tears. At the close of the concert, Paderewski said nothing to her but went up and tenderly kissed her on the forehead and left. If she had not made the mistake and failed, she would not have received a kiss of love and understanding from the master pianist. Likewise, it is when we stumble and fall into sin and are complete failures that the mercy of God in Christ is experienced.

Simon should have remembered this. This was his failure. Let’s take a look at the text once more. Notice that there are three characters in the story. First there is Simon. He is the Pharisee. Then there is the woman. We don’t know who she was. She could be the same woman who in John 12 anointed Jesus’ feet just before his crucifixion but we simply don’t know for sure. The third character is Jesus. Now let me say a word about Simon. Over the centuries the Pharisees have gotten a bad rap. A lot of that criticism is warranted because they often used petty standards to judge people. But let me now put in a good word for them. In this case the Pharisee rightly judged the woman’s lifestyle. She was a sinner. I think that in certain respects this is appropriate. Today we are afraid to publicly identify sinful behavior. This attitude is rampant in the secular society as well as the Christian. In Christian circle we say we are not to judge. In secular society we are to be inclusive and permissive of other peoples lifestyles. My friends this is nonsense.

I think this is an important distinction: Jesus was not telling Simon, “Don’t judge this woman for her sins.” He was telling Simon, “Don’t stop her from receiving forgiveness for her sins.” Jesus said, Simon, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little. So Simon is to be commended for telling it like it is but he is to be shunned for blocking this woman’s access to God. So, here is what we are to do as Christians: Be honest and call sin, sin but he humble and allow sins forgiveness. Don’t block anyone’s access to God. This after all is the primary responsibility of every Jewish leader in Jesus’ day. They had forgotten that. IT is the duty of every Christian today. That is what Paul meant when he referred to the Priesthood of all believers. My friends you are a Priest for Christ. Do your job. Give people access to a holy God so they might receive forgiveness for their unholy sins.

II

Here is the second shaping event that comes from this act of forgiveness: The event is used to teach others, in this case it was Simon and those at the dinner party. Now the important part of this lesson is that a woman who had sinned much was given much forgiveness. That’s the important part. But something else happens here in the process. Jesus took Simons misdirected heart and tried to teach him something in the process. Two things are accomplished: The woman receives forgiveness and Simon learns a lesson about forgiveness.

Jesus directed all his attention and focus to the moment. There were several people around that table that night and he knew he could have an impact. So he told the story about two men who owed money to a lender, a kind of first century loan shark. One oweb 500 dollars and the other owed 50. Neither of the men were able to pay back the loan so he canceled the debts, a loan shark with a heart. Jesus then asked this question: Simon, he said, which of them love him more? Simon’s answer was right on: The one who had the greater debt. A short story with a great point. He who is forgiven little loves little. It’s just a realistic point. Jesus is not trying to put Simon down because he didn’t fawn all over Jesus; he is simply being realistic.

This woman was a great sinner. She needed more grace than did Simon. She of course will show Christ the greater love. All of us should attempt to shape others peoples lives through forgiveness. That’s why we are and who we are and what we are as followers of Christ. We are builders of other peoples lives through forgiveness.

Life is a matter of building. Each of us has the opportunity to build something -- a secure family, a good reputation, a career, a relationship to God. But some of those things can disappear almost overnight due to financial losses, natural disasters and other unforeseen difficulties.

What are we to do? Daniel Webster offered excellent advice, saying, "If we work on marble it will perish. If we work on brass, time will efface it. If we rear temples, they will crumble to dust. But if we work on men's immortal minds, if we imbue them with high principles, with just fear of God and love of their fellow-men, we engrave on those tablets something which time cannot efface, and which will brighten and brighten to all eternity.

I would like to add to Webster list of works: Forgiveness.

III

Remember that redemption is mankind’s one great need. As many of you know the Olympic summer games will be held in their place of birth—Greece. There is an old story about the Greek Marathon. Muscular, conditioned runners paced nervously near the starting line for the long-distance race. The time was near. They "shook out" their muscles, inhaled deeply, and put on their game faces. In the midst of it all, a young stranger took his place at the starting line. His physique was awesome. Taking no notice of the other contestants, he stared straight ahead. Two prizes would be awarded the winner of the Marathon: a magnificent bouquet of flowers and the honor of standing beside the king until the conclusion of other contests. There seemed to be no question among the runners about who would win the prize. It is alleged that the stranger was offered money not to run. Someone else attempted to bribe him with property. Refusing the offers, he toed the mark and awaited the signal to run. When the signal was given, he was the first away. At the finish line, he was the first to cross, well ahead of the rest. When it was all done, someone asked the young man if he thought the flowers were worth as much as the money and property he had refused. He replied, "I did not enter the race for the flowers. I ran so that I could stand beside my king!"

Again, the woman who "intruded" into the Pharisee's house apparently had one thing on her mind. She wanted to stand beside her king. She knew that there she would find redemption.