The sinner and the saint

After Luke 7:36-50 

The woman weeps and anoints

his feet; the man, the host, a man

known to follow the law, likely

congratulates himself for inviting

the man to dine. How freethinking. 

How liberal. How progressive. 

But the guest points out what’s

obvious: that the woman 

of contrition, the woman

of weeping, loves him more

than the man who follows

the law.

 

Photograph by Mahdi Bafande via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

“I Open the Window” – poem by Jane Hirschfield at Literary Hub.

 

The State We’re In – Matthew Hosier at Think Theology.

 

Bible debates, ancient and modern: why did the early church choose only four gospels? – Richard Ostling at Get Religion. 

The greater sin

After Luke 7:36-50

A sinful woman of the city,

a euphemism for prostitution,

weeps and anoints his feet

with oil. The host, a man

of some means who followed

the law, is taken aback,

surprised at how unacceptable

this is for his guest to accept

such an anointing. But he says 

nothing. The anointed one

smiles, understanding

the host’s thought, and answers

aloud with a story, a tale 

of two debtors, one lesser and

one greater, and asks which one 

will love the canceller of the debt 

more?

 

Photograph by Kat J via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

The Severe Kindness of Jesus: Hearing Mercy in His Words – Jon Bloom at Desiring God.

 

A Scriptural Soldier: A review of The Letters, Writings, and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell – Crawford Gribben at New Criterion.

 

Jesus of the Scars – poem by Edward Shillito at Kingdom Poets (D.S. Martin).

 

History Matters – Joel Kotkin at Quillette.

 

Poetry Club: Coffee Shop Collage – “Do the Shells Still Hear?” – Tweetspeak Poetry.

Therefore I am (not)

Knowing, and doing

is not the same

as believing. My mind,

my will, are not the same

as my heart. Do I wipe

with my hair? Do I kiss

the feet?

I think, I act,

therefore I am.

I believe,

therefore I am

saved.

I love, I savor,

therefore I am

full, therefore I am

fulfilled, because

then I am not,

therefore.

Photograph by Julie Gentry via Public Domain Pictures. Used with permission.