Overwhelming, Permeating Love

Each of the four Gospel writers tell about a woman anointing Jesus with oil. The details in each are slightly different. There are scholars who contend that the writers are telling about the same encounter and scholars who contend that more than once Jesus was anointed by women with oil. I’m not sure that it matters except I do think it is important for us to be cautious about eliding each of the 4 accounts into one story. Each one is told with a purpose and lesson of its own, it’s own teaching, that the Gospel writer is trying to share. So, we need to listen carefully and be aware that it is easy for us to add in details from one of the other Gospels that are not present in this account.

Luke tells us that Jesus is invited to the home of Simon, a Pharisee. Pharisees were the ultimate rule-followers. They tried to develop rules and practices for every situation you might face so that you didn’t risk breaking God’s law. Their goal was God’s Kingdom to come, and they believed that if everyone lives according to God’s law, it would be accomplished. So, not only were they rule followers, they were rule enforcers.

While Jesus and Simon were reclined at the table, remember tables for dining were about 15-20 inches tall, and they were seated on the ground, so they were laying back on one forearm while they ate with the other hand, and their feet were out behind them, a woman comes in off of the street and stands with tears streaming down her face and dripping onto Jesus’s feet. We don’t know much about this woman. Some say she was involved in the oldest profession; the association comes from her being identified as Mary Magdalene by John in his Gospel and Pope Gregory almost 600 years later, with no evidence, declaring in a sermon that she was a prostitute. The Roman Catholic church reversed that declaration in 1969, but after 1300 years of tradition, the associate stuck. That’s not to say that this woman was virtuous. Luke tells us that she is a sinner.

Jesus doesn’t move as she lets down her hair, suddenly smothering his feet in kisses as she uses her hair to wipe away the trails of her tears through the dirt and sand. It’s a passionate, messy scene. She won’t be held back by propriety or manners or wait until she is invited…she just lets love overwhelm her, and the scent of perfume permeates the house. Simon is scandalized that she is in his presence and feels sure that if Jesus really were a prophet, he would distance himself from her.

Luke tells us Jesus answered Simon…Simon didn’t have to say anything out loud. Jesus knows not only who she is, but what Simon is thinking and how Simon has judged her. “There once was a lender who forgave two debtors. One had a massive amount of debt; he couldn’t imagine ever being free of it, it weighed in his thoughts with every decision, weighing him down day in and day out. They other had only borrowed enough to bridge him until he didn’t need the loan.  The lender forgave both debtors. Which one experiences a more overwhelming response that permeates their life?”

Then Jesus breaks eye contact with Simon and turns toward the woman – he’s laying on the floor, twists his body, and looks at her. “Do you see this woman?” he asks Simon. “Do you see how you have been restrained and refined and she has let love overwhelm her and gratitude permeate her being?”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” “Aphesis” the same word Luke used for “release” when Jesus announced that his mission was to proclaim release to the captives. No longer is she held prisoner by her sins. She is released to go in peace.

The good news is that you are released, too. Whether you are like Simon, and think that you just need a bridge loan to get across a few spots where you may be little short, or you are like the woman who is labeled by the whole community, “sinner,” and feel the eyes and the scorn and the weight of your debts heavy on you. It’s good news for you; how will you respond? What does the way the woman responds teach us about loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength? And what do we learn from Simon, about our need for forgiveness, about our tendency to judge and neglect hospitality, about our call to share the good news?

Jesus taught that when we show hospitality to the least of these we are showing it to Jesus, this is how we love God now, by loving our neighbor. By asking, “Hungry? Thirsty? Immigrant? Poor? Sick? In debt?”  And responding, “Let me show you hospitality. Let me give you water to wash off your feet so that you are comfortable and offer you the kiss of welcome; let me anoint your head with oil as a sign of respect.” With whatever we do or don’t do for the “least of these” we choose whether we will be Simon the Pharisee or the forgiven woman. And as soon as we judge Simon for being so sure he wasn’t that sinful, and tsk at his pride, we have become him. The good news of forgiveness, of release, is for everyone. The bread broken at this table is for all who love Jesus, all seek to grow in his likeness by showing the hospitality of making their neighbor comfortable, offering a seat at the table with welcome and respect. The cup poured out by Jesus is for you, for the forgiveness of your sins. Will you let the power of that truth overwhelm you and permeate your life?