Most of us only understand love at a surface level—a warm feeling, a bouquet of

flowers, a compliment, a listening ear. Elusive and mysterious, love is so much more.

Sadly, it often goes unnoticed when it shows up.

One story, tucked away in a few paragraphs of a chapter penned by Saint Luke, love

showed up in a most unusual way. It’s the story of a woman who was left off the guest

list to a very prominent dinner. Though the narrative is sparse on details, it could have

happened like this:

She followed him around town all day. Shrouded to hide her identity, she kept her

eye on his every move, marveling as he strongly opposed the religious leaders who

challenged him at every street corner. It was obvious they craved his power and that

their hatred of him flowed from jealousy, so she was quite shocked when he accepted an

invitation to one of their homes for dinner. They were the reason she hid in public.

Rumor had it he was a local carpenter’s son who had left his father’s business

to preach the love of God and everyone was talking about his radical beliefs and

inconceivable miracles.

Only days ago she climbed a crowded mountain to hear him preach a strange new

law, a law of forgiveness – of loving one’s enemies. In sweltering heat, the prophet

began his debut sermon. Every word from his mouth marched out with such audacity,

lies ran from him in fear.

It was on that mount that hope found her. It was on that day she stopped running from

her past and was determined to let him know how grateful she was for that freedom.

The dinner was more of a set-up than anything. The Master’s disciples were confused

as to why he would even eat with those whom he so vehemently opposed, but they

didn’t question him.

He had only been reclining at the Pharisee’s table for a short while when she boldly

entered the home and fell, unashamed, weeping at his feet. The room grew silent. The

Pharisee was appalled at the intrusion, but closely watched his guest, itching for an

opportunity to trap him.

Dropping to the floor, she drew the shroud from her head and her hair fell around her

shoulders as recklessly as her tears fell on his feet. She wiped them with her hair and

then poured fragrant oil from an alabaster vase, anointing her Savior’s feet without a

word.

The dinner host smirked.

“This man, if he were a prophet,” he thought, “would know who and what manner

of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” Little did he know he was

entertaining the Son of God.

Though he knew the man’s thoughts, Jesus used an illustration to expose them and

then delivered one of the timeliest truths of the universe.

“Do you see this woman?” he asked, “I entered your house; you gave me no water for

my feet, but she has washed my feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her

head.”

The Pharisee’s skin was red with anger as he stared into eyes of fire, “but a person

who is forgiven little shows only little love.”