Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 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.””
NL Daily Devotion for Sunday, February 23, 2025
by Pr. Sara Gorman, Clergy Stuff
Main Idea: Hosting someone comes from a place of gratitude, not as a way to gain status.
I never know how to treat people when they come into my home. Most of the time I know they’re coming, and it’s for a dinner or game night or something. But when it’s for a playdate with my son, I’m lost. Of course I offer everyone something to drink, but do I offer snacks? What if their parents would rather they not eat? Do I offer something for the adult, like a game or something so the kids can play? Or do I offer the couch so we can intently stare at our children while they attempt to play together?
In the gospel reading, it appears that the Pharisee who invited Jesus over doesn’t know how to treat guests that are not of the same social status. After all, the woman wasn’t invited to the dinner, she just showed up. But clearly this particular Pharisee hasn’t been following Jesus for very long, nor does he know what Jesus has been up to. Because if he did, he wouldn’t be surprised that “a sinner” was caring for Jesus. And maybe would have been embarrassed that he wasn’t hosting Jesus the way he should have been.
When you host someone, you are being vulnerable in a number of ways. One of those ways is that you are inviting someone into your home. And another is that you are welcoming people into your life—which isn’t always the prettiest. While the Pharisee was physically doing the first, he wasn’t so much doing the second. He wanted to look good, wanted the fact he was hosting Jesus to mean something, and be able to hold it over people’s heads. But instead of being praised for allowing people into his home, Jesus shows him that there’s more to hosting, and teaches him that there is still more to learn about one another and ourselves.
