A woman with a reputation enters Simon the Pharisee’s house. She carries no words, only her tears. Kneeling at Jesus’ feet, she pours out costly perfume—an extravagant display of love. Simon is scandalized, but Jesus sees her differently. He tells a parable of two debtors: one forgiven little, one forgiven much. “Who will love more?” Jesus asks. The answer is clear. Her love is evidence of the mercy that has already rewritten her story.
Author and Lutheran Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber writes, “Grace isn’t about God creating humans as flawed beings and then acting all hurt when we inevitably fail. It’s God knowing we’re going to fail and loving us through it.” The woman in this story isn’t defined by her past but by God’s grace. And Jesus invites us into that same radical love—a love that sees beyond our worst moments to the deeper truth of who we are.
Where do you need to let grace rewrite your story? How can you extend that same love to others, seeing them as Jesus does?
May you find yourself in God’s story today. -Pastor Peter
Let’s pray… God of mercy, remind us that we are not our failures. Rewrite our shame into love, our judgment into grace, and our past into possibility. Amen.
Note: Pastor Peter is traveling in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam through Feb. 26. Please keep him, Anne, and their companions in your prayers.