Day 31 | Smashing alabaster jars

Reflection

Scopophobia is the fear of having people stare at you in social settings. And this was something Adam battled with.

He grew up in a church culture where people feared being seen in certain settings – the pub, parties, and even the cinema to name three examples. Even being seen hanging around with those who went to those places was a no-no.

In today’s passage, Simon the Pharisee has a similar outlook. He thought Jesus couldn’t be a true prophet because he didn’t see this woman pouring perfume over his feet as society saw her –a sinful, unclean woman who should not be associated with.

Adam learned an important lesson about this on a stag do in New Zealand. He was terrified about being out with this bunch of guys and what they might get up to. He feared that their behaviour and language might somehow contaminate him.

Yet, at one point in the evening, in a bar, the best man said, ‘Adam, I’m so glad you came out with us. In fact, I reckon if Jesus were here today, he’d be out here with us too.’

And he was right. Because Jesus was never concerned about who he was seen with. He saw all those he met as God’s dearly loved children and was seen eating with and partying with neighbours rejected by the religious establishment.

We need to learn to see our neighbours as God sees them.

Loving our neighbours can be a messy business. We must learn to lean in and embrace the tension. If we know our purpose is to love them, then we can be focused and faithful even in the midst of the party. Seeing your neighbours as people deeply loved by God will make all the difference to how you see your purpose there in your neighbourhood.

Lord, give me grace-healed eyes to see my neighbours as you see them. And help me to remain faithful to your ways so that my neighbours may come to see you. Amen.