THE OUTSIDERS

Luke 7:36-47
36 One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so He went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and as she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this Man were a prophet, He would know who is touching Him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner." . . . 44 [Jesus] said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give Me any water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give Me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing My feet. 46 You did not put oil on My head, but she has poured perfume on My feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much."

Several years ago I accepted an appointment to the Governor's Commission for the United Nations Year of the Family. The initial meeting was held in downtown Detroit. There was a host of well-known and influential people at the gathering: politicians, business owners, radio personalities, sports heroes, and the mayor of Motown.

Nobody welcomed me. Nobody talked to me. No one shook my hand. I felt unwelcome and invisible. Then Detroit Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell introduced himself to me and made me feel at home and accepted.

We don't know why Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus to his house for a feast, but we do know that Jesus didn't feel at home. Simon did not offer Him the customary courtesy of washing His dusty feet. He did not extend to Jesus the greeting of the day--a kiss of friendship and welcome. Nor did he bother to anoint Jesus' head with oil, a sign of honor and esteem.

Jesus must have felt like an outsider until a "woman who had lived a sinful life in that town" came into the room. She sat at His feet and wept, washing His feet with her tears. She kissed them again and again to express her love. Then she broke open a jar of perfume and anointed His feet. Jesus pointed out to Simon her devotion and compassion--that she had done what he in his pride had failed to do.

The woman gave Jesus the love and respect He deserved. She expressed her faith in Him and her gratitude for His forgiveness. She was illustrating this truth: The secret of a loving heart is to forget yourself and give yourself to someone else in sincere devotion.

God wants us to have that kind of compassionate, loving heart, especially toward people who are ignored, those who are not accepted--outsiders. He wants us to be more interested in what we can give than in what we can get. --Dave Egner

DESTINATION POINTS

* Have I ever been frozen out among a group of people? How did it make me feel?
* What are some ways I can make people feel welcome and accepted?

LINKS:
God of the Maggies

bottom line: Reach out to those who are left out.

soul journey