tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553896531179747942.post2383788045498882475..comments2007-06-14T22:27:35.788-07:00Herb O'Driscollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15131608054218451967noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553896531179747942.post-33229600976601594922007-05-03T22:34:00.000-07:002007-05-03T22:34:00.000-07:00What speaks to me in this episode is the quality of unabashedness in this woman. She does not wait for some acknowledgement or invitation. She moves from shadow to light, from periphery to center stage. She makes no effort to constrain her emotions. She holds nothing back; she is extravagant in her self-abasement, and in her offering. All this while being completely vulnerable in that her identity and reputation are public knowledge. And presumably, there is her awareness that Jesus knows her as well, if not from some previous encounter, then in that intuitive way that allowed him to know those with whom he interacted. <BR/><BR/>It is tempting to see her actions as being born of desperation, of having nothing to lose and everything to gain. While I would not dismiss that, I sense the presence of faith being risked. I hear an echo of the leper who said, "if you will, you can make me clean."<BR/><BR/>What I glean from this woman is that if I am to receive forgiveness, I cannot do so on my own terms. I must allow myself to be vulnerable, which means I may not seek to rationalize my shortcomings of pride or self-centeredness. I must also allow myself to be vulnerable to the possibility of rejection, which means that I must take a risk of faith that there is grace enough even for me.<BR/><BR/>I think perhaps this woman might have much to share/teach, if one were to spend time conversing with her.Rrik Barclaynoreply@blogger.com