Shown Great Love

 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 continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.’ Jesus spoke up and said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ ‘Teacher,’ he replied, ‘speak.’ ‘A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?’ Simon answered, ‘I suppose the one for whom he cancelled the greater debt.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘You have judged rightly.’ Then turning towards the woman, he 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.’ Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’ And he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’ Luke 7:36-50

Things have quieted down in this country a little bit after the furor over the Kavanaugh hearings. What hasn't quieted down is the awareness of

how women are treated versus how men are treated. It became very

clear that some believe women caused a problem, and a young man was 

just doing what young men do. Women who have to sell themselves to survive face a worse dilemma. They are considered less than human and throwaways. Yet those who are throw away, overlooked and ill-considered often understand generosity and compassion, and know likewise how to demonstrate it.

Jesus is anointed by an unnamed woman who is designated as a sinner, an outcast of society. This upsets the homeowner to the point of speaking ill of the woman and Jesus. She shouldn't be even allowed in, let alone touch him. Yet Jesus understood hospitality and compassion, true love demonstrated, and embrace the woman and her gift. He also told the homeowner of his own lack of compassion and hospitality. We are invited to live our lives showing great love rather than judgment and dismissive behavior.

Today, I ask God to help me know my sins and show gratitude for the tremendous love and forgiveness I have received. May we all live lives of gratitude, putting judgment aside and making room for those who have been throw away by these times.