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In today’s gospel reading from Luke, we are given the scenario of literally the town whore acting in what appears to be an unseemly way with Jesus. We are not given the name of the woman. Yet, since the time of Pope Gregory the Great it was taught until recently by the Church that Mary Magdalene was this woman of ill-repute. In fact, she is depicted in historic paintings carrying the alabaster jar used to anoint the feet of Jesus.
Although it may be interesting to muse about the true identity of the woman who came to Jesus in tears and anointed Him with very expensive perfume; the real story we are given here is one of true repentance. Unlike King David, who needed his pastoral advisor, Nathan the prophet, to warn David of his sins of murder and lust, this woman came to Jesus of her own accord. In fact, she sought Him out. I believe it was her repentant broken heart that led this woman to Jesus.
When she found Him in the home of a prestigious member of the Pharisees, this did not deter her from her mission. Instead, this woman entered into the private dining room of this Pharisee and went straight to Jesus. This action on her behalf took a lot of courage. She was not an invited guest. The scripture reads, “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.
This act of humility and repentance is not received well at all by the Pharisee whose home she has invaded with her unwelcome presence. In fact, the Pharisee is very upset that such a woman is in his home. Yet, he does not throw the woman out, but blames Jesus for indulging in the woman’s open display of impropriety. For the Pharisee, this embarrassing moment has become an ‘aha!’ moment to prove Jesus’ falseness as a prophet!
What has this woman done that is so offensive? The woman is a known sinner and Jesus has allowed her to openly touch Him. Luke writes, “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.’”
According to the rules of proper society, such displays of public emotion were off the charts. But even more so it is against the rules for a reputable prophet, a man of God, to allow the town whore to lavish such a display of affection and emotional intimacy upon Him. In other words, Jesus let an unclean person not only touch Him, but also worship Him.
The Pharisee just does not get it nor do the others at the dinner understand, especially when Jesus forgives the woman for her sins. Only God can forgive sins, yet Jesus forgives this woman openly. He even tells the Pharisee a parable to try and teach him why this woman is so grateful.
This woman had been bound by a lifestyle of sin. She sold her body for the pleasures of men. Because of this lifestyle she was shunned and despised in public. But in the dark of night these same men who outwardly mocked her sought her out to fulfill their sinful lusts of passion. Covered in wealth on the outside, this woman had become emotionally poor with a hardened heart over the years.
Yet, somewhere somehow, this man Jesus had changed all of that. Whether it was a look or a word from Him that broke open the cold chamber of her heart we will never know. But something miraculous had happened to this woman. The walls of her heart had been broken by the love of God. To the outside world, this woman was a Nobody, but to the Lord, she was someone special.
The flood of tears that washed over her cleansed and healed the wounds of many years. We do not know why she even became a prostitute. She could have been sold by her parents into a house of prostitution to help pay for some household bills. We do not know if she had been forced into such a lifestyle or if she had chosen it to survive in a world ruled only by men. However she got into to such a way of living, only Jesus cared enough to release her from it.
Today, there are many folks walking around who I refer to as the ‘walking wounded’. On the outside, they appear to have it all together, but on the inside they are filled with anger, bitterness, and hatred. Years of living in spiritual darkness have built up walls of hardness around their hearts. For some, all hope of knowing a life or even a moment of happiness has been destroyed. Yet, Jesus has hope for them. Jesus sees the potential in all of our lives. No one is out of reach of Jesus’ love and forgiveness.
This is the incredible message that we as Christians have to share with the world, especially the ‘walking wounded’. We have the key to open their hearts and set them free from the darkness that entombs them. The question is, “Are we willing to share the love of God with all peoples, even the outcasts of society?” Or are we so busy trying to keep the rules of society like the Pharisee that we look down on folks that Jesus wants to heal? Each one of us must respond to this question. We need to evaluate our lives and our priorities according to Jesus’ standards.
One of the things that I love about the Episcopal Church is our signs. On every Episcopal Church sign throughout this country are written these words, “All are welcome!” If we truly believe this, then we can change the world by sharing the good news of Christ with all peoples. If we want to be like the Pharisee and look down on certain groups, then we need to change our signs to read, “Only proper people are welcome here.”
Less we are tempted to do just that, we need to remember Jesus’ words, “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.” May we be known here at St. Raphael’s as a place where all are welcome. May the forgiveness of Jesus for all be our gift of hospitality as witnessed in God’s love flowing through us.
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