Thoughts for the Day

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears, and to dry them with her hair. Then she continues kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment......

Jesus said to Simon, 'Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven, hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.'

(New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

There is more in this story from Luke's Gospel than we can pursue here, but you might want to look at the whole story in Luke Chapter 7. The woman is probably a prostitute - her hair is down and uncovered! She could be Mary Magdalene. We also need to remember the other story of a woman washing Jesus' feet at the Last Supper, perhaps the stories became muddled at some time.

Simon, the Pharisee is grudging in his welcome, giving none of the customary signs of a real welcome for a guest, let alone a Rabbi, while the woman cannot show him enough love and respect. Jesus compares their attitudes and forces us to be honest about our own reaction to him. Do we welcome him when it suits us, half-heartedly like Simon, or do we acknowledge all that he has done for us, and yearn to get closer to him?

Monday 25th May, follow up thoughts

Lord Jesus,
You welcome sinners.
Help us to acknowledge our faults,
and come to You with humble
and joyful hearts,
so that we may follow in Your footsteps.
Amen