Psalm 84:1-4; Exodus 29:29-35:21; Luke 7:36-50

Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself at the altar of YHWH? This is the same altar upon which animals are sacrificed! Yet, home designates the disposition of YHWH: always motivated by love for his entire creation. Moses' face shines like it does because it has been transformed in some sense by being in the presence of God. All the Sabbath regulations and tabernacle contributions, elaborate as they are, are to remind the people of God of being in his perfect presence, his perfect power, his perfect holiness, his perfect ... .That's what makes the Gospel reading so powerful. The woman does not have to be perfect in Jesus' presence but Jesus makes her perfect: "Your sins are forgiven" (48). Jesus incarnates the perfect presence of God in this imperfect, sin-filled world. He come to you and me and makes us perfect like he did the woman!

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