Listen again to the story of God’s grace and open yourself anew to the good news of forgiveness...

Once upon a time there was a woman who had a reputation in her community for living a lifestyle which good, decent folks did not approve of. It did not matter whether the reputation was deserved. It only mattered that the people of her community believed it. She had lived a hard life, and the years were beginning to show on her face. She did what she could to survive, but it was not always easy and often it meant doing things which only seemed to confirm what everyone already believed. Sometimes it seemed as if people almost delighted in reminding her of words from places like Psalm 5 -- “For you are not a God who delights in wickedness...you hate all evildoers.” Hers was a life of quiet desperation, with little hope of ever really seeing her dreams come true.

Then one day she heard about a man named Jesus. He was a wandering teacher and storyteller, travelling around the land sharing the good news that God had not forgotten the people, and indeed, was ready to embrace them and care for them and give them life. Many people were listening to Jesus’ stories and found in them hope. The woman had heard bits and pieces about this Jesus before, but now came the news that he was coming to her town. One of the local religious leaders had invited him to dinner. When she heard that, she knew what she must do. She gathered up what she needed and set out for the house of Simon, the Pharisee.

Jesus’ popularity among the people had been growing, but for some, his presence remained disturbing and unsettling. For you see, there were many who were beginning to say that this wandering storytelling teacher was the promised and long awaited Anointed One, sent from God to save the people. Such talk was not received as good news among many of the leaders within the religious community, for they knew that their positions of power and authority would be challenged and threatened. Some, however, were more open-minded. They were concerned about whether this Jesus was really teaching things which ought to be taught, but they were at least willing to hear his message and give him a chance.

Such was the case with a man named Simon. A wealthy leader in his community, he decided to invite Jesus to his home for dinner, so he could talk with him face to face and hear first hand what this young teacher had to say. Because of Jesus’ growing popularity, it was not surprising when, on the night of the dinner, there were people who followed him to the house. In fact, they followed him all the way into the house, right to the table where they were eating. This might seem strange to those who live in another time and another place, but it was really very normal, acceptable behavior for people in that land at that time. There was no centrally organized welfare system in those days to help the poor, so there were customs designed to assist with that need. One such custom was that when wealthy people had parties, they would also open up their homes to the poor, who could come in and take advantage of the scraps and crumbs which such a gathering would produce. So, the fact that people followed Jesus to the house was not surprising. What was surprising, however, was the behavior of one of those who followed.

When she arrived at the house, the woman had a moment of uncertainty and confusion which paralyzed her in the doorway. She hated this custom which allowed her to be here, not as an invited guest, but as a nuisance whose presence was tolerated -- no better than a dog, really. She was aware of her appearance, with her old dress and unkempt hair. She knew that she did not fit in. But she also knew why she had come, and that knowledge gave her the strength to move. And then, suddenly, there he was, reclining at the table with Simon. Of course they did not notice her. The custom gave her the right to be there, but that did not mean they had to acknowledge her existence. She might as well have been a sand flea, for all the difference she made to anyone. And then she remembered the things she had heard about this man Jesus. It was said that when he looked at you it felt as though he was looking all the way through you -- and still he had only love and care and concern for you. They said he told stories about a God who loved everyone, whether they were rich or poor. They said that to meet him was to have your life changed. Well, God knew, her life needed to be changed. But she was suddenly filled again with doubt and fear and hopelessness. How could all of this be true? How could anyone care about her life? How could anyone make her life different? No one even saw her! No one even knew who she was, except to dismiss her as “that sinful woman on the other side of town.”

But then an amazing thing happened. Jesus looked up from the table and saw her standing behind him. He didn’t say anything -- he didn’t have to. He looked at her and he saw her. He didn’t see a poor, dirty, sinful woman. He saw her. And he smiled. In that moment the doubt and the fear and the hopelessness poured out of her and she knew what it meant to be loved. She was so overwhelmed that all she could do was cry. The tears rolled down her face and fell softly on her hands and then she remembered the perfume she had brought. She knelt down and opened the container and began to pour the perfume on his feet and wash them. She was still crying and her tears also fell on his feet, mixing with the sweet smelling ointment. Then she kissed his feet and wiped them dry with her hair. It was all she could do. It was all she had to offer. In that simple, foolish act she was pouring out her very soul in gratitude to this person who had given her the gift of love.

What came next might have been expected. Simon looked down at her and shook his head in disgust. Custom dictacted he had to let her be there, but the least she could do was not bother his guests. She was a disgusting woman, he thought to himself. Why was this Jesus allowing her to touch him that way? Could he not tell what sort of woman she was? But, then, as if Jesus could read his thoughts, he said, “Simon, let me tell you a story about forgiveness.”

The story cut right to the heart of the woman, for he was talking about her. She had felt burdened by the weight of some great debt her whole life. And then Jesus had looked at her and saw her and smiled. The weight was gone. Of course she loved him for it. What else could she do but love him. And not only him. She felt as if, for the first time in her whole life, she could love other people. She could even love someone like Simon, who couldn’t see past her appearance to the real person underneath. She had been set free from a dark prison, into a world filled with light. The stories were all true -- her life had been changed. What a sad thing that Simon and the others in the room still did not understand. When Jesus said she was forgiven, they thought it was Jesus who was offering the forgiveness. If only they could see -- forgiveness is all around them all the time. Jesus only showed her how to see it.

In many ways the woman’s life remained the same as it had been before. She was still poor and it was still hard for her to survive. And yet, in all the ways which really matter, her life could never be the same again. For now she knew what it was to be loved -- not for what she did, but for who she was.

And Simon’s life could never really be the same either. For on that strange day when he had invited Jesus to his house for dinner, he had witnessed a miracle. And someday he might even recognize what it was he saw. How about you? Have you experienced any miracles lately?