Anointing Tears
As Volunteers whenever we had a full day in the prison we would eat lunch in the guards’ cafeteria. It was next to the inmates’ cafeteria but was smaller—maybe 40 people could be seated. There were paintings by inmates on the wall, and some were quite good. The air in the guards’ cafeteria was warm, and paper towels were laid over the butter to keep out the flies. The butter was soft from the warmth of the room. The background noise was loud—a combination of the fans, people talking, and clanging plates.
As we ate lunch that day I noticed a couple of the guys talking to one of the inmates. This inmate was a trustee who worked in the guards’ cafeteria. He was a fast moving fellow always checking on what we needed. I remember his short stature and bald head. He looked like a tough fellow. Later in the day I asked what the conservation was about. My friends said he had never been to church, nor did he know Christ. They took time to pray with him that day.
One of the nice things about being around for a while is having the opportunity to see things change. One day I was asked to shoot a video of the prison choir. It had been a couple of years since that day in the cafeteria, but I remember distinctly seeing my waiter’s shining face. He had joined the choir and was singing. Shooting a video can keep you quite busy, but during a break I stopped and asked one of the men how long he had be a choir member. “A couple of years, I would guess” he replied. “You can always find him in the choir. He is the one with the big smile on his face and tears streaming down.”
One of the Pharisees asked Jesus over for a meal. He went to the Pharisee’s house and sat down at the dinner table. Just then a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man was the prophet I thought he was, he would have known what kind of woman this is who is falling all over him. Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Oh? Tell me.”
“Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?”
Simon answered, “I suppose the one who was forgiven the most.”
“That’s right,” said Jesus. Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, “Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn’t quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn’t it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.” Then he spoke to her: “I forgive your sins.”
That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: “Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!” He ignored them and said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” (Luke 7:36-48 The Message)
The stories of the Bible still live today if you have the eyes to see them.
Rev Patrick Evans
The Church will have a prison ministry night at the fellowship hall this Wednesday night. Dinner at 6:00 PM. Program at 7:00 PM.
