One day in a college classroom filled with students a student asked the professor if she could open up a window to let in some fresh air. The room wasn’t air-conditioned and it was summer, so when she made the request she anticipated that the professor would say sure. But that wasn’t the case. The professor said that the window needed to remain shut because there was just too much traffic noise.

When the class groaned, the instructor went on to explain that the school was on a busy street, and it seemed like every five minutes emergency vehicles were flying by the building with their sirens blasting away. The teacher said that she did not want the class to be distracted by the noise from the street and especially all those sirens, so for this reason, said the teacher, the windows will always remain closed.

Well the students didn’t like her explanation but there was nothing they could do about it and so they did their best to struggle with the summer heat in the classroom. Now a week went by and one Monday when the students walked into the classroom they discovered that all of the windows were half open. With the windows open the classroom was filled with a nice summer breeze.

Once all the students had settled into their seats the teacher addressed the class. You probably noticed that the windows are open today, said the professor. They are open for a reason, you see over the weekend my husband had a heart attack and I had to call for an ambulance. The EMT’s came and revived my husband and then they put him in an ambulance and quickly transported him to the hospital. He’s doing well now in the hospital and they say he’s going to have a full recovery. Then she paused, and collected her thoughts. I want to apologize to you about the closed windows, you see I wanted them closed because I’ve never liked noise, especially sirens. But given my recent experience with my husband, the windows will stay open from now on. You see I now realize that noise is a sign of life, and sirens, well they are a call to prayer. So when you hear a siren, listen beyond the noise and think of the person being transported.

Unfortunately, like that professor I think we all are sometimes guilty of trying to insulate ourselves from all the noise in our world, especially those sirens, those calls for help. So we close our windows and try to keep all that noise out. A lot of people no longer listen to the nightly news, or read the paper or surf the major news on the net because they don’t want to hear about the latest murder or rape or tragic accident. They don’t want to hear about the oil leak or the 10 % unemployment rate across our country. They don’t want to hear about those small businesses that are closing their doors. They don’t want to hear that everyday children are being sold as sex slaves in some distant country.

Yes we don’t want to be distracted by all those noisy sirens, so we try to insulate ourselves by keeping our windows closed. But today I think our scripture lesson is suggesting that people of faith shouldn’t insulate themselves from the sirens and troubles of life. But rather we should allow those sirens and troubles to be a call for action.

Luke tells us that a sinful woman came un-expectantly to a dinner party hosted by Simon, a Pharisee. Actually the party was more like an outdoor barbeque. Being outdoors the woman had access to the guests at that party, but there was only one guest that this woman was interested in and his name was Jesus.

No doubt the woman had heard a lot of noise about Jesus, both good and bad. Some said that he was God’s Son, while others said that he was an agent of the devil. Some focused on his miracles, while others saw only his repeated violations of the law. Some saw his teachings as being inspired, while others saw his teaching as being a heretical. Yes there was a lot of noise that circulated around this man Jesus. But what stood out in this woman, and what our author Luke wants us to see, is that this woman looked through all that noise surrounding Jesus, and saw a man who needed care, and grace, and compassion. So she crashed the party and she ministered to his need. She took some perfume and poured it on Jesus feet and then gently wiped his feet with her hair. Of course everyone was shocked at this inappropriate display of grace, especially since it was given by a woman of questionable character. But Jesus was deeply moved by this experience in fact it is the only time that someone actually ministers to him. And so because this experience was so unique it’s not surprising to see Jesus immediately rush to her aid, when the woman comes under attack for her actions. You see Jesus saw her care as a display of compassion and as an act of faith. He saw her action as a loving gesture of grace and he points that out to the other guests at the party. We don’t know if they understood but clearly the woman understood. And so the story ends with Jesus sending the woman off in peace and forgiveness.

My friends it’s tempting to try and insulate ourselves from the noise, the hurts and struggles and pains of life. But Luke lifts before us this woman because he wants us to see that people of faith, like her, don’t insulate themselves from those who are hurting, but rather they reach out to the hurting in compassion and care.

Now I admit, sometimes we can feel overwhelmed by all the needs and the hurts. I mean everyday its something new, a tornado, another murder, five more soldiers killed. Sometimes there’s just so much noise and pain in life that I say to Bonnie I can’t wait till we retire and move up north on the lake, then we can get away from it all.

But after spouting off and venting, I know in my heart that that’s not what God wants me to do. God doesn’t want me to hide up north in the national forest, in my retirement home, where all is quiet and safe. God doesn’t want me to stop caring, but God wants me to keep carrying and keep reaching out even if in just small ways. And I think God wants you to do the same. As people of faith, like that woman in Luke, God wants us reach out in love and grace and compassion. Now how we reach out is going to vary. Some of us go on mission trips to try and bring grace to those in need. Others, volunteer at helping organizations like the food pantry or meals on wheels, or tele-care. Some sleep overnight as staff with the homeless, while others roll bandages or create care packages for school aged children in third world countries. The opportunities are endless to reach out in care, but we can all do something. So what are you doing? We can all reach out through our prayers. We can pray for those who have been affected by natural disasters and we can pray for those who are affected by the oil spill. We can pray for our service men overseas and for those who live in refugee camps. We can pray for our fellow church members who are burdened with health issues or concerns for their extended family. Prayer is one way that each and every one of us can reach out in compassion and care.

We also can share our finances. When we share our financial resources with the church and through special offerings like the One Great Hour Of Sharing a lot of good can take place. We can share our resources with helping non profits like United Way and the Agape House, and when we do lives are changed and empowered. Our financial gifts don’t have to be large but if we all give something, even if it’s just a dollar, we can make a difference and care can be given.

My friends we live in a world where there will always be needs. We live in a world where tragedy will cause pain and suffering on a daily basis. I wish it weren’t this way, but that’s the world we live in. So do what you can, but please do something. Don’t hide somewhere in an insulated world, but like that classroom profess or the woman who washed Jesus feet open your windows and reach out in care. For through your care, your grace, your actions you can make a difference. You can change a life, and if you change just one life you’ve done something wonderful.