ed to his host. "Symeon," he said, "I have something to say to
you."

"What is it, Teacher?" asked the Pharisee.

"There was once a man who loaned money," said Jesus. "One of his debtors
owed him two hundred and fifty dollars; another owed him twenty-five
dollars." The guests were listening closely. "Neither of these men could
pay back the money, so the lender said to both of them: 'I forgive you
your debts. You don't need to pay me back at all.'" He paused and then
asked, "Now which of these two men would be more grateful?"

"Why, naturally, the man who owed more money would be more grateful,"
replied Symeon without hesitating.

"Right!" said Jesus. "When I came into your house you didn't even offer
to wash my feet--and everyone does that for his guest! But this woman
has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair!

"You didn't welcome me with a kiss--and everyone greets his guest that
way!" He pointed to the woman. "But she has been kissing my feet.

"You didn't anoint my head with oil--and everyone does that for his
guest! But this woman has poured precious perfume on my feet!" Jesus'
voice was quiet, but all the Pharisees could sense the force of his
words when he said: "She has committed many sins, but they are all
forgiven and now her heart is full of love." Then Jesus spoke directly
to Symeon and each word seemed to strike him like a blow. "But a man
whose sins are not forgiven has no love in his heart." Then he said very
gently to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven."

Symeon's face burned hot. Never had anyone spoken like this to him! He
was troubled by the suggestion that he was a sinner. All his life he had
done his best to obey the Law. Had he not always prided himself on his
good actions?

Hurt and confused, Symeon heard a friend beside him whisper, "Did you
hear him say that this woman's sins are forgiven?" Abruptly Symeon
looked up at the man. He was right! It was an outrage for anyone to say
such a thing as this!

"You have no reason to be sorrowful," Jesus was saying to the woman.
"Your faith has saved you."

Symeon stood up, his shame forgotten. Why had he ever let this person
disturb him? Anyone who talked this way was a heretic and a blasphemer,
nothing better! Only God could forgive sin. They all knew the truth
about this Jesus now: such a man was dangerous to all true religion. As
a Pharisee who loved the Law, he would have to do all he could to keep
him from deceiving th