Breaking the Word

Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources. (Lk 8:1-3)

 

 

Jesus was an itinerant preacher. He never confined his preaching and ministry to a single place. When he finished his ministry in one place then that was the beginning of the ministry in another place. His work was not broken up into parts and pieces. It had one continuous progress. Places kept changing, people were different but preaching was the same. It was the good news of the kingdom.

 

He was not doing it all by himself. He was not all alone. He had people to accompany. Some of them he called. Some he chose. Others followed him. There was a sizable crowd to accompany him always. At times they themselves become preachers and continuers of the same ministry.

 

There were also women from Galilee who accompanied him on his journey. These women were sustaining him out of their means. The association of women with the ministry of Jesus is most unusual. The first-century Palestinian Judaism had a different attitude toward women. The more common attitude is expressed in John 4:27. (it was against speaking with women in public)

 

 

 

 

  

 A Pharisee invited him to dine with him,…

"Simon, I have something to say to you." "Tell me, teacher," he said…

 When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The others at table said to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" But he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." (Lk 7:36-50)

 

 

A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him. Jesus went as a quest to the house of a Pharisee. The Pharisee played the host. As a host the Pharisee had to provide water to wash the feet as the quest entered the house and then he had to welcome him with kisses and anoint his head with oil etc. The Pharisee had not done any of these.

 

A woman came into the house of the Pharisee and she was not a member of the house and in fact she was a sinner. But she played the role of a host to Jesus. She received him with kisses and wiped his feet with tears and anointed his head. She was hospitable.

 

Hospitality of this woman revealed her faith. Hospitality won forgiveness from her sins. Forgiveness is the reward for hospitality. Theological and religious terms like ‘faith’ and ‘forgiveness’ are made simple and practical. A social quality like ‘hospitality’ could be seen as a theological and religious virtue when it is done with love for the person.