One of the things that we tend to ignore is that women and men are different. This affects everything, including the ways women express devotion. To have a church that is too masculine is an error, perhaps, but having a church that is too feminine leads to as great an error or more so.

Sometimes in grief that devotion is extravagant. This woman was probably a whore — given that a denarius was a day’s wage she spilt about 45 000 dollars or eighteen months salary all at once. (Or if you like, that is 500 silver one oz coins. Such was her grief. Such was her need for cleansing. Such was her devotion.

And Jesus spoke softly to her, for he saw her penitence. Of which, more below.

Luke 7:36-50

³⁶One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. ³⁷And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. ³⁸She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. ³⁹Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him — that she is a sinner.” ⁴⁰Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “speak.” ⁴¹“A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴²When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” ⁴³Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” ⁴⁴Then 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. ⁴⁵You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. ⁴⁷Therefore, 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.” ⁴⁸Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” ⁴⁹But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” ⁵⁰And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Now, the trouble is that this world is fallen, and that we are living in a society that discourages women from being feminine and men from being masculine, wanting us instead to be in some kind of effete mess where we will not procreate. and the meme says this is good.

The meme neither allows for men to do things decently and in order — and note that Jesus contrasts the proper and accepted duties of a host, which were neglected, with those the woman did — nor allows for the correct expression of emotions, which in worship can be extravagant, as (one hopes) they are in the marital bed, and with children.

Again, a wise woman knows she cannot comfort and protect her child always. And a wise man does watch the budget.

And I may be speculating, but if she was a notorious sinner and that is the basics of her cosmetics tray — her perfume — gone, then it is a fairly effective way of changing careers. At times we have to be radical. And in this time, speaking the gospel is itself radical.

Because, if a miracle occurs and I end up again in marriage, I do not want a neuter. Women may be at times batty to crazy, but at other times they see things far more clearly that us men do. This was one of those days. The woman saw the master and creator of the world. The Pharisee saw a hick rabbi.