“Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head, as he sat at table. But when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for a large sum, and given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me.” –Matthew 26: 6-10
Jesus was always willing to share a meal with the people of the community in which he was preaching. Sometimes, it was a meal with his disciples, sometimes with friends. On some occasions, the meal was with large crowds, while other times, it was with a small group of strangers in the home of a new friend.
On one occasion, while in Bethany, Jesus ate at Simon the leper’s house. This was a radical decision. Leprosy is a scary disease. No one in Jesus’ time knew how it was transmitted. When a person was found to be a leper, they were cut off from their family and their community. This is how people protected themselves. Although the community was protected, those with leprosy were shunned. While it seems that Simon had been healed and cleansed, it still had to be a thought in people’s minds. It is in the house of a leper that Jesus dares to go and eat. While in this house, a woman comes and pours a large container of perfume on the feet of Jesus.
Those in the room for dinner and witnessed this event were shocked. This was a lavish offering poured out on Jesus. There were mixed reactions in the room. Jesus found this woman’s actions to be a blessing, while his disciples were, “indignant.” Jesus takes a moment to teach his disciples and offers a reminder to us today. He makes it clear that it was “A beautiful thing.”
The story of this dinner contains many troublesome elements. One of the guests was a man with leprosy, unclean, according to the medical and religious practices of the day. The disciples’ attitude was not pretty. They were more concerned with the cost of the perfume than they were amazed at the sacrificial act performed by this woman. During this challenging situation, a beautiful thing was done.
The woman at Simon the Leper’s house reminds us that a good deed overcomes so much. When we take time to bless others, it brings beauty to the world. It changes a difficult time into a blessed moment. We often find ourselves at the table with different people and diverse opinions. However, when we work to share God’s love, it provides beauty in what are otherwise harsh and challenging moments.
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
