The Valentine’s displays are already marked down at Walmart, heart-shaped chocolate boxes sit half-eaten on kitchen counters, and some roses are starting to drop their petals. Now that the commercialized romance of February 14th is fading, we might find ourselves thinking about love in deeper ways. What does it mean to love extravagantly? How do we show love when it costs us something real?
Consider moments when you’ve wanted to express profound gratitude or love but worried about what others might think. Maybe you’ve held back from showing how much someone means to you because you were afraid of being seen as too emotional or inappropriate. Today’s story from Luke’s Gospel introduces us to an individual who completely disregarded all such concerns. At a dinner party where she wasn’t welcome, this woman poured out her love for Jesus in a way that shocked everyone who was there – yet Jesus saw the beauty in her extravagant gesture.
As we explore this encounter together, we witness how genuine love transforms both the one who gives and the one who receives. Where some saw scandal, Jesus saw sacred devotion. What happens when we let gratitude overcome our fear of what others might think? What does it look like to love God and others without holding back?
Today we begin a new worship series, “Finding Your Place in God’s Story.” Over the next few weeks, we’ll look at different people who met Jesus and found their lives transformed. Some met him in dramatic moments, while others encountered him quietly. But each person’s story became part of God’s bigger story of love and grace.
Today, we meet a woman who crashed a dinner party to show her love for Jesus. While everyone else judged her for her past, Jesus welcomed her completely. Her story teaches us a powerful truth – it’s never too late to begin again with God. Whether you’re taking your first steps of faith or finding your way back after time away, God’s grace is ready to meet you exactly where you are.
Our scripture passage for today comes from the Gospel according to Luke, written around 80-85 AD, when the early Christian movement was growing beyond its Jewish roots. Luke wrote for a mostly non-Jewish audience, carefully showing how Jesus welcomed everyone, especially those society rejected.
The scene unfolds at a dinner party in a Pharisee’s home. In that time, meals weren’t just about eating – they were significant social events where status and reputation held great importance. People reclined on cushions around a low table, their feet behind them. Doors often stayed open, letting neighbors observe these gatherings.
Now, the woman in our story would have been instantly recognizable as an outsider. While Luke doesn’t specify her “sins,” the community clearly knew and judged her for them. By entering this formal dinner uninvited and touching Jesus – especially his feet – she broke all kinds of social rules. Imagine someone with a bad reputation walking into a fancy dinner party today – that’s how shocking this was.
The expensive perfume she brought would have been worth nearly a year’s wages. This wasn’t just a luxury item – women sometimes kept these bottles as financial security, like an emergency fund. She was literally pouring out her future at Jesus’ feet.
Simon the Pharisee’s silent judgment of both the woman and Jesus reveals the story’s tension. He thinks a real prophet would know better than to let such a woman touch him. But Jesus turns the situation around with a story about forgiveness and love, showing that the “sinful” woman understands God’s grace better than the religious expert does.
This story connects to similar moments throughout Luke where Jesus welcomes outcasts – tax collectors, lepers, Gentiles. It shows us that no one is beyond God’s grace and that gratitude for forgiveness naturally leads to loving action. The main message is that God’s welcome is always wider than human judgment, and it’s never too late to begin again.
So, what does this look like today? Think about being in high school or college, trying to figure out who you are and where you belong. Maybe you’ve made mistakes that seem to define you, or you worry about what others think. Like the woman in today’s story, you might feel labeled by your past. But Jesus shows us that no label is permanent – every day offers a fresh start with God.
Or perhaps you’re in the middle of your career, making tough choices about integrity and values. You might relate to Simon the Pharisee, carefully managing your reputation and following all the rules. Jesus challenges us to look deeper, to move beyond surface-level religion to genuine love and acceptance of others.
Some of us are carrying heavy burdens of regret or shame, thinking we’ve gone too far or waited too long to change direction. The woman’s story speaks directly to this fear. She didn’t let shame keep her from Jesus – she brought her whole self, past and everything, and found complete acceptance. Her courage to begin again, even with everyone watching and judging, shows us it’s never too late for a fresh start.
This week, try taking one step toward new beginnings. Maybe that means finally having that difficult conversation you’ve been avoiding. Perhaps it’s reaching out to someone you’ve judged harshly, seeing them through Jesus’ eyes of grace. It could mean releasing old guilt and accepting God’s forgiveness, or showing that same forgiveness to someone else.
Look for opportunities to welcome others as Jesus welcomed this woman. When someone shares their struggles, listen without judgment. If you notice someone feeling like an outsider, make room for them. Small acts of grace can create ripples of transformation in our community, just as they did that night at Simon’s house.
Remember – Jesus specializes in new beginnings. Whatever your past, whatever others might say, God’s grace is always ready to meet you exactly where you are and help you start fresh.
The good news is that God’s welcome is always wider than we imagine. In this story of an unexpected dinner guest, we see the heart of the Gospel unveiled – that God’s grace reaches beyond human judgment to transform lives completely. Just as this woman found acceptance and a fresh start at Jesus’ feet, God continues to offer new beginnings to everyone who comes seeking mercy.
This moment in Luke’s Gospel isn’t just about one woman’s transformation. It reveals God’s ongoing work of redemption that runs through all of scripture – from God seeking Adam and Eve in the garden, to welcoming home the prodigal son, to Jesus’ final words of forgiveness from the cross. We see a God who consistently moves toward those society pushes away, offering dignity and restored relationship to all who have been labeled unworthy.
Jesus’ response to both the woman and Simon shows us that God’s kingdom operates by different rules than our human systems of honor and shame. Where we see irredeemable pasts, God sees potential for new life. Where we build walls, God builds bridges. Where we keep score of wrongs, God’s grace wipes the slate clean.
This is the miracle at the heart of our faith – that the God who created the universe cares enough to meet us in our messiest moments, receiving our imperfect offerings of love and transforming them into testimonies of grace. Through Christ, God is still turning tears of shame into oil of gladness, still welcoming outcasts to the table, still making all things new.
Long after the Valentine’s cards have been tucked away, true love continues to pour itself out day after day. The same Jesus who defended this woman’s expression of love invites us to bring our whole hearts to him. Whether through quiet devotion or bold demonstration, remember – love holds nothing back.
Will you pray with me?
God of boundless love, thank you for welcoming our imperfect offerings of gratitude and devotion. Give us courage to love extravagantly, knowing you receive us with grace. Amen.
In crafting today’s sermon, I employed AI assistants like Claude and Apple Intelligence, yet the ultimate responsibility for its content rests with me. These tools offered valuable perspectives, but the most influential sermon preparation hinges on biblical study, theological insight, personal reflection, and divine guidance. I see AI as a supportive aid to enrich the sermon process while ensuring my own voice in proclaiming the Word of God.
Rev. Andrew Conard 