Jesus turned to the woman and said to Simon, ” Do you see this woman? When I entered your home, you didn’t give me water for my feet, but she wet my feet with tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing my feet since I came in. You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has poured perfumed oil on my feet. This is why I tell you that her many sins have been forgiven; so she has shown great love. The one who is forgiven little loves little.”
Then Jesus said to her, ” Your sins are forgiven.”
The other table guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this person that even forgives sins?”
Jesus said to the woman, ” Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
“It was the woman, not Simon or the male guests and disciples, who was doing, acting, caring, touching, anointing, giving and risking. And Jesus accepted her silent acts of intimacy and devotion with profound respect and reverent silence. Perhaps Jesus longed for the warmth and comfort of another’s touch. Perhaps the cool ointment cascading from his head over his face and neck was like a baptism of sorts. Perhaps this tender act of mercy brought healing to his heavy heart. Perhaps, just once, it felt good to receive To sit and be passive. To let someone minister to him. Perhaps to be cared for and loved was a balm to his soul. Perhaps this anointing was an act of emancipation for both Jesus and the woman. Jesus was not ashamed or embarrassed or defensive. He did no rebuke or resist or reject her. Rather, Jesus affirmed the woman for who she was and what she did.” ~Helen Brunch Pearson, Do What You Have the Power to Do
Lord, may I reach out to You this day. May I not look to others for approval, only to you for affirmation of love and acceptance. Amen.