"Passing the Test" - Luke 7:36-48 - June 13, 2004

This morning we are honoring our graduates. None of them arrived at that milestone in their life without passing many tests along the way. Tests are never fun but unfortunately they are a reality. Sometimes we don’t do very well.

I remember my first Economics test in college. I bombed it. It took me a long time to rebound and get a passing grade. I had to change my attitude toward studying and taking college more seriously. Unfortunately, in the subject of economics I had dug myself a hole.

In our story, Simon had dug a hole for himself. He was presented with a test in the subject of forgiveness and he flunked. He knew the right answer but failed to apply it to his life. One may be able to check the right answers on a test but its quite another thing to apply them in real life. The same is true for graduation. The real test comes after graduation as one strives to make their way in the world.

The world we live in challenges us every day. There will be times when you find yourself on the road and someone cuts you off. This will test your patience. Will you get angry and try to get revenge? Will you let it upset you, thus raising your blood pressure? Or, will you smile, continue on your way, and forgive the stupid driver for driving recklessly?

You are going to meet many new people. Some will be different. They will be from other places, have different opinions and values. Their clothing may be different and as well as the color of their skin. They may have habits that you find troubling. They may be irritating as all get out. Will you accept them for who they are? Will you welcome them into your life?

This was exactly the test that Simon faced. Was he willing to forgive this woman who dared to enter a man’s world? Could he accept her history of abnormal behavior? He had already flunked Hospitality 101. Unlike the woman who had shown devotion to Jesus, Simon’s lack of hospitality toward Jesus fell far short of a passing grade.

Just what exactly was the test? It was a test about forgiveness and love. As Jesus said, "The one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." Understand that and live it and you get a passing grade.

Stephen Glenn tells the story about his experience with one of his teachers. Her name was Miss Hardy. She was his teacher in the fifth grade. Glenn was a "learning-disabled child." He suffered from Dyslexia. Each of his elementary teachers passed him on to the next grade, including their observations of him as a "learning-disabled" child. Things got progressively worse. Since Glenn was unable to perceive things normally he developed a stutter. Each teacher knew before he arrived in a new class that Glenn had problems. Since they had a preconceived bias about his problems he never improved.

When Glenn arrived in Miss Hardy’s class things changed. Rather than label him disabled, she labeled him "eccentric." She went to the trouble of speaking with his mother who told him he had a photographic memory. He could read and he could understand, but he had trouble reading out loud. She solved his stuttering problem by making him speak with marbles in his mouth. She knew that Glenn understood the material he read but was fearful to express himself. Fortunately he had her for the 6th grade also. Miss Hardy was the first teacher to really believe in him and see him as a young man with potential, not "learning-disabled."

Glenn kept track of Miss Hardy over the years. Late in life she became terminally ill with cancer. Glenn decided to make a pilgrimage across the country to pay her a visit. When he arrived he had to stand in line because hundreds of other students were there to visit her too. The group included 3 US Senators, 12 state legislatures and a number of CEO’s from several corporations. As the students compared notes, they all recalled how the educational process intimidated them, believing they were incapable or insignificant because they weren’t normal children. But, Miss Hardy did believe in them and treated each of them with total love and acceptance. By the way, the group included one PhD, Stephen Glenn. (from Chicken Soup for the Teacher’s Soul)

"Simon, I have something to say to you," Jesus said. "Teacher," he replied, "Speak." Then Jesus told the story of the creditor who had two debtors. Both of their debts were canceled. "Which one will love more?" Jesus asked. Simon then said, "The one that had the greater debt." Simon got it right, but he was still blind.

Simon saw a "sinner." His vision was impaired by his prejudice and righteous attitude. Jesus on the other hand, saw a human being who was reaching out for love and acceptance. He also saw one who was willing to make a sacrifice by anointing him with costly oil.

Its a hard lesson to learn but Jesus makes it clear that passing the test of forgiveness calls us to be forgiving ourselves. Forgiveness is a gift and I believe that our willingness to "give" is our greatest stumbling block. Our pride, our stubbornness, our obsession with "fairness" all stand in the way of loving others.

Giving is the key and giving requires a generous heart, a change in attitude and a shift in behavior. This was Simon’s test, a three-part examination that required work outside the classroom.

Displayed on the wall in my office are my three diplomas. The other day I happened to glance at them and on one of them I noticed the word, "given." I then read the others and noticed that all three include the word, "given." Each of them was given on a particular date, in a particular city, by a different institution of higher education.

I had always thought they were something I had earned since I passed all the tests, went through all the hoops, and fulfilled all the requirements. And yet, each of them was given. Forgiveness is not earned either. It is a gift from God and when we are fully able to receive we are then able to give it to others.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio