The ultimate love

I’m hanging out in San Luis Obispo at my favorite coffee shop, second only to the Java House in Nairobi, Kenya.  I’m here sipping on a dark roast blend, people watching and working on my message for this Sunday.  My topic for this weekend is from an old document written by a guy named John.  Some 2,000 years ago, he recorded an incident that is dear to my heart; namely, the non-judgmental, I love you for who you are type of life that characterized my favorite Rabbi.

You see, in this story Jesus is asked what He would do with a woman caught in the very act of adultery.  The religious leaders, you know – the one’s that walked around acting like they were better than everyone, felt that she should be punished to the full extent of the Mosaic Law (a potential death sentence).  Jesus looked at them, stooped down to the ground and began to write something in the dirt.  They continued to banter Him with the question and He finally responded, “He who is without sin, cast the first stone.”  In other words, “...you rock throwers, you judgmental hypocrites – if you’re perfect, stone her...”

Well, the story goes that the oldest to the youngest left the temple due to their guilty conscious and Jesus was left alone with the gal.  What intrigues me is how He responds to this seemingly guilty sinner.  First, He shows compassion.  Can you imagine how embarrassed this lady was?  He poses a question to her and asks where her condemners were.  Further, to solidify His compassion, He addresses her with the word woman.  In the Greek language, this word is the very same word He used when He addressed his mother.  He shows compassion to this lady when He could have placated to a mean, critical worldly spirit.  Second, He loves her right where she was when He said, “... neither do I condemn you!”  I love this about Him – He didn’t tell her to clean up her act, He didn’t highlight all her failures and, He didn’t attack verbally... He simply loved her!  And third, Jesus told her to “...go and sin no more.”  In other words, in the Greek phraseology: there’s a far greater life for you to live than the one you’re currently living – go and live a life of purpose, a life of meaning and life in relationship with your Creator.

As I reflect on this wonderful display of the ultimate love, I’m convicted on a couple of fronts.  One area is that of judgment.  How many times do I carry a rock of condemnation around to hurl at one who isn’t living up to where I feel they should live?  Just this morning on my way into SLO, I ran into a few of Morro Bay’s homeless guys near my house.  I pulled up next them in my truck and asked how they were doing.  Their response, “... you know Pastor, we’re doing...”  Five years ago, I probably wouldn’t have given them the time of day.  However, as I’ve become close friends with my cop-friend Richard, and have witnessed his I care about you for who you are lifestyle, I’ve learned to love these guys right where they are (I was impressed that they were going around looking for recyclables to earn money for their breakfast...).  Another area that convicted me about this 2,000 year old story was my dismissal of the needs of others because of my busy schedule.  Here’s the most famous Rabbi of his day taking time out of his day to love an outcast, a broken and a hurting woman; a lady that potentially could be put to death.  How many times do I get so caught up in the moment that I miss an opportunity to care, to love and to invest my life into the life of others?  In all seriousness, when I arrived at the Starbucks on Marsh in SLO, on the bench outside of California’s Pizza Kitchen was a man named Frank.  He too is homeless and he frequents Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo and Grover Beach.  This wasn’t the first time I’ve ran into him outside of our city.  Well, sad to say, in my humanity and crazy busy day, I simply said, ‘Hello Frank, how are you – I have to write a sermon for Sunday, have a nice day!”  Hum... I must say not a great example for a man of the alleged cloth.  I probably should have spent $3.00 and bought him a sandwich, talked with him and hung out for ten minutes (I’m sure my sermon would be better if I did...); however, I missed an opportunity. 

Thanks for hearing me out.  I guess the lesson for me, for us to consider is to a live a life of no judgment, to live a life of investing into others and to pursue a life of the ultimate love my Rabbi showed that lady in Jerusalem two millennia ago.  Have a great day...