Then turning toward the woman, Jesus 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." (v. 44)
A TRANSFORMING POWER
We like to look good,
polish our image. We like people to think well of us. Am I wearing the
right clothes? Doing the right thing? We are pretty cautious about
disclosing the shadowy corners of our lives.
Her life was an open book, X-rated. Good, religious,
moral people thought they knew all about her. Her image was badly
tarnished. She knelt before Jesus, let her hair down, and expressed
her faith, weeping, praying for mercy. They watched this
display of devotion, and whispered, "Unforgivable!"
Our neighbor Lutheran church, St. Paul’s, offers weddings to
non-member couples, with pre-marital counseling and emphasis on Christian
marriage. Many couples have been turned away from other churches because
they have done wrong, or they have lived together, or one has a child without
marriage. Couples come amidst the pain, the ups and downs of life, longing for
something more. They find Christ’s word of welcome and forgiveness, God’s gift
of hope and new beginnings.
A friend commented that confession and forgiveness in Sunday
worship is just routine, because "I really don’t have anything to confess. I’m a
good person." She is. Simon the Pharisee was a good person, too. Perhaps there’s
a danger in being good: We may miss the surprise, the passion, the transforming
power of forgiveness. For Jesus is more than a teacher, leader and prophet. We
need more to sustain us, just as we are, through the ups and downs of life.
Christ is our Savior! Our faith in him alone saves us, gives us direction,
meaning, hope and peace.
Merciful God, I confess that I have a deep need for your
forgiveness. Help me to find ways to express my love for you and to
receive your wonderful word of grace. In the name of my Savior, Jesus
Christ.
The Rev. Sally Fahrenthold, retired
