DEFENDING LOVE

The little story of Jesus at the house of Simon the Pharisee is truly a contrast story that defends love. Simon was offended because ‘an immoral woman,’ or a prostitute, was serving Jesus by washing his feet and pouring expensive perfume on them. As usual Jesus used a parable to explain: He said, “a man loaned two people money, one he loaned 500 pieces of silver and the other 50 pieces. Neither one could pay him back. He forgave them both and cancelled their debt. Which one do you suppose loved him more?” Simon answered, “the one who had the larger debt canceled.” Jesus said, ‘You are correct.’”

Jesus defended the woman’s love for him by contrasting her as someone with ‘many sins’ who knew she had ‘been forgiven much.’ He continued by saying, “a person who has been forgiven little shows little love, but a person who has been forgiven much loves much.” He defended her lavish love of washing his feet with her tears, wiping them with her hair, kissing his feet continually and anointing his feet with perfume. On the other hand he contrasted Simon who offered no water, no towel, no customary kiss and no anointing oil for his head. We clearly see the coldness of Simon and his religion and the warmth of the woman and her love. Such love is always defended and it defends itself.

“She has shown me much love.” Jesus