Sunday 16 June 2013

Background

Some of the issues in this passage are about hospitality and theplace of women in society as well as forgiveness, faith and love.Jesus has been half-welcomed by Simon. But all the warm welcome ofreal hospitality offered in this society is missing - no water towash feet dusty from the road, no kiss of greeting, no anointing tomark an important guest. All Simon offers is formal politeness.

The door may well have been open for additional guests, or forpeople in need. The woman comes in behind the official guests, whowould have been reclining on couches, to offer her gratitude to theman who helped her change her life. She is so overcome that shecries before she can use the ointment she has brought, and withoutthinking uses her long hair to dry Jesus' feet. Displaying her hairin public like that would have marked her as a prostitute, even ifshe had been unknown to the respectable guests!

So Jesus has this conversation to try and show Simon thedifference between himself as an apparently reluctant host, andthis restored and forgiven woman.  There seems to be verylittle idea of joy in Simon's hospitality!

In the few verses after this story (Luke 8:2-3), we are remindedthat Jesus had a very different view of the place of women frommost men of his time. Probably no other travelling preacher wouldhave allowed women to accompany him and his male followers on anequal footing - even women of some social standing, like Joanna.These women, however they had come to know Jesus, paid for hisministry, and were clearly part of the teaching and healingministry.

To Ponder

• How do you feel about public displays of emotion?

• What do you feel grateful to God about?

• Think about those who offer you love and support in your lifeand pray for them if you feel you want to.