Like children at play
We have no wisdom
In our wants
Children mimic
Parents whose
Wants are also
Conflicted
We don’t want the
Sacrifices of John
But we suspect the
Joy of Jesus
Both are unnatural
Simon invited Jesus
Into his house
But fearing the disapproval of
His peers
Simon did not accord
Jesus the respect of a
Traveling rabbi
Who was this woman
Who dared to approach
Jesus?
The pharisees did not see
Her
They saw her reputation
A sinner
Probably of some renown
Probably a beautiful woman
But no woman chooses
The life of an outcast
We do not know her story
Most of us, like Simon,
Don’t want to know
It might interfere with our
Judgement
Our feeling of being more
Righteous
Imagine her shock at seeing
His filthy feet
Feet that should have been cleaned
By his host.
The perfume she carried
Was expensive
Probably the gift
Of a rich client
She chose to do
What Simon had not
She opened the vial
She let down her beautiful hair
She used the tears of her
Weeping
To wash his feet
She kissed his feet
Despite what the others
Thought
A gesture with no
Sexual content.
Kisses that were pure
In the story of the debtors
Forgiveness was well
Within the loaner’s ability
Neither amount would be missed
By a rich man.
But in a time of gross inequality
The forgiveness was
An enormous reprieve
For both
They were shocked when
Jesus claimed to forgive
As if he had that power
Never realizing that it was
A power
They all possessed.
Like the rich man
Jesus forgave both
But only the woman
Gave thanks
It was her faith
That saved her
She believed she could go
Another way
With her life
As can we.
Luke 7:31-50
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