What Kind of Woman

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 canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward 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

For generations, after first contact on this continent, Indigenous women were often captured and used as personal slaves for men. And even today, our young girls and women are taken, in record numbers for the sex trade. The proportion of missing and murdered women in our populations is staggering. There are women with bright futures and many gifts, women who love their families and want to honor their people. The woman who encountered and anointed Jesus had probably been sold into prostitution by a brother an uncle or a father. Yet today, we hear of his appreciation for "this kind of woman" and calls her a woman of great faith.

Loving God, you balanced the world at its birth

yet we humans have struggled for control

we put some people down so we can feel righteous

yet you came among the people and loved them all.

You love us all to this very place and time

despite our waring and our selfish ways

you promise healing to every suffering human

and promise healing to this sacred earth.

Let us live like the redeemed sinner that we are

grateful and joyful in every interaction

knowing that yours is the judgement alone

and you breath peace and forgiveness in every breath. Amen.