Page 24 - laten-08-06-2020

Bethany

Unnamed Woman

Mark 14: 3 - 9
Introduction

esus’ life and ministry are inseparable from the faithful
Jaccompaniment and discipleship of women. We can see them
playing important role in his birth, ministry, death, crucifixion
and in resurrection. Here in this narrative we can note one
unnamed woman’s participation in the journey of Christ to
crucifixion. Jesus’ crucifixion was surrounded by so many
incidents in which people can encounter and experience the
cross through many people involved in that journey. Jesus met
the unnamed woman at Simon the leper’s house in Bethany.
Recognition of women’s act towards his burial is a part
of his most important act of death and resurrection for our
salvation. Mark emphasizes here that Jesus was intentionally
accompanied with outsiders. The striking aspect in this
passage is the willingness of Jesus to fellowship with the sinful
and reaching their hearts with the truth. Thus, when invited
by Simon the leper, Jesus graciously accepted the invitation in
order to transform him. And when an unnamed woman tried to
reach him at the dinner, he did not refuse her admission to his
presence, but graciously received tokens of her penitence and
love and commended her for faith.
The woman was basically viewed as a sinner. Some
scholars assume that it was a common practice on those days
to have the presence of the prostitutes as a feast given for the
guest. She was ignored and rejected by the society and also by
the religious community. But even though she was seen as a
sinner her service to Jesus revealed so many truths to us which
help us to reimagine her.

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Lenten Meditations Re - Imaging People