Luke 7:36-40: a reflection

36One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee’s house and sat at the table. 37Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.” 40Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” He said, “Teacher, say on.”

Jesus is dining at the house of Simon, a Pharisee, when a woman known in the town as a sinner comes in. She stands behind Jesus at his feet, weeping, and washes his feet with her tears, wipes them with her hair, kisses them, and anoints them with costly ointment. It is an act of overwhelming, tender devotion, and it is directed at Jesus by someone the respectable people of the town would have shunned. She pours out her love without reserve.

Simon, watching, judges silently in his heart: if this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him, that she is a sinner. To Simon, the woman's presence and touch are a scandal, and Jesus' acceptance of them a sign he cannot be from God. But Jesus, who knows exactly who the woman is and also what Simon is thinking, turns to his host: Simon, I have something to tell you. Two hearts are on display: the woman's lavish love and Simon's cold, judging superiority.

The contrast searches us. Are we more like the woman, pouring out love born of knowing how much we have been forgiven, or more like Simon, coldly judging others while blind to our own need? Jesus welcomed the woman the religious despised, and it was her overflowing love, not Simon's respectability, that he honored. Do not stand at a distance judging others as beneath you. Come to Jesus as the woman did, aware of your own need, and let gratitude for his mercy pour out in love. He receives those the self-righteous reject.

Lord Jesus, the sinful woman poured out lavish love at your feet, while Simon coldly judged her from his seat of respectability, and you honored her love, not his superiority. Search my heart. Keep me from Simon's cold judgment of others while I am blind to my own need. Make me like the woman, aware of how much I have been forgiven, and let my gratitude overflow in love for you. Amen.