How would you title our Gospel narrative? I suspect most would lean towards a title that emphasized the actions of the woman. In part, because we possess parallels to the Lucan account in the other Gospels (Mt 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, and John 12:1-8); although not exactly parallels. All of the other accounts take place in Jerusalem during Holy Week. But in Luke’s account Jesus is still in the midst of his Galilean mission. Thus, in Luke’s account there is no relation between the anointing and the burial of Jesus. Yet, there are common points of similarity e.g., the alabaster jar. But what is unique about the Lucan account is the development of a relationship between forgiveness and love. Continue reading →

³⁶ A Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. ³⁷ Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, ³⁸ she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. ³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” ⁴⁰ Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. Continue reading →