My faith journey involves a lot of patience, mercy, grace and love…not just for others but for myself. I continue to ponder on the idea that faith and the manifestations of it can be offensive especially when living cross culturally but as I reflect and walk through my days, I am finding that this may be a fear man has spoken over humanity, over me.

Why? Because when I remember the times I encountered Jesus, the time growing up when His truth and love manifested, I realize that offense was not included in those moments. 

I have read the story in Luke 7 of the “sinful woman” many times, but as I read it this week I see something very familiar in it. Not the sin…but the risk, the love and the culturally “unacceptable”. I see Jesus, I see myself, I see Jesus serving through the outpouring of a “sinful woman”. And you know what? It can appear offensive. 

“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.”

Then Jesus is basically scolded by his host, a Pharisee…Jesus responds.

“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. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.

Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” – Luke 7:44-50

Wow! This was not her home. This was not her guest. She was not invited. She was not the host.

I want to be more like her…

-Carla Ann