“And a woman in the city who was a sinner, having learned that Jesus was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment.  She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair, kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment.”Luke 7:37-38

A deeply devout woman in one of my churches was the Sunday School Superintendent.   She taught children  the importance of mission work  and  sharing God’s love with people in distant places. Mission offerings were taken on the last Sunday of the month, with everyone reminded the week before, to bring some extra coins.

Whether it was a church council meeting, or one of the women’s groups, the need for missions was brought up.     Not everyone appreciated her persistent push to raise funds for mission work. Occasionally, I would hear a snide comment about, “Who did she think she was, to be telling them, what to do?”

Only after her death, did I learn her story. Widowed and a single parent during the Depression, it was difficult to make ends meet.   And sometimes, the only way she found to provide for her family, was to make herself available to men.

What people who mocked her failed to understand, was the saving power of Christ’s love and the grace of it, which blots out sin. Naming the forgiven as loved and beloved children of God. The past was behind, forgiveness had been given, and the richness of that truth sustained her.

 *  “Wonderful Words of Life,” was one of her favorite hymns.

It includes these words:

“Sweetly echo the gospel call,
Wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all,
Wonderful words of life”

A woman kneels at the feet of Jesus, washing his feet with her tears. While some could only think of her as a sinner, so much less then themselves, Jesus sees her heart. Jesus speaks a word of grace, “Your sins are forgiven . . .Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:48, 50

*The full text of P.P.Bliss’s hymn – Wonderful Words of Life

1 Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life;
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty
Teach me faith and duty.

Refrain:
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life;
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life.

2 Christ, the blessed one, gives to all
Wonderful words of life;
Sinner, list to the loving call,
Wonderful words of life;
All so freely given,
Wooing us to heaven. [Refrain]

3 Sweetly echo the gospel call,
Wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all,
Wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior,
Sanctify forever. [Refrain]   P.P.Bliss