275/444 Healing from Infidelity: Non-sexual Physical Intimacy 5, The Town Harlot
2012.06.07
The Town Harlot dared
She dared to enter his presence
At his feet where she had been with many men
She dared to believe her tears had meaning and value
as they rained down on his dusty toes
She dared to loose her hair. No doubt provocatively swinging it softly to her shoulders
arousing the cobalt hearted crowd
Her falls mixed with his dirt taken upon her locks, upon her crown
alchemized into an anti-snake elixir
Cleansing her she kissed his feet
She dared to offer her sweet aroma
Sweeter than a lilac bush in bloom
And then
She dared
She dared to receive
Not his member
She dared to received his Message
as he gazed into the secrets beyond her eyes
You cleansed me
You welcomed me
You freshened and soothed me
I forgive your sins
You are healed
Peace be upon you
~Ben Wilson
Luke 7:36-50
The Message (MSG)
Anointing His Feet
36-39One of the Pharisees asked him over for a meal. He went to the Pharisee's house and sat down at the dinner table. Just then a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man was the prophet I thought he was, he would have known what kind of woman this is who is falling all over him."40Jesus said to him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Oh? Tell me."
41-42"Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?"
43-47Simon answered, "I suppose the one who was forgiven the most."
"That's right," said Jesus. Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, "Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn't quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn't it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal."
48Then he spoke to her: "I forgive your sins."
49That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: "Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!"
50He ignored them and said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."