THE WOMAN AND HER ALABASTER BOX-LESSONS IN GRATEFULNESS

In middle eastern culture, food and feasting is a crucial fixture. Families and friends would come together to feast. It was the symbol of relaxation, fellowship, hospitality and generosity. The story in Luke chapter 7 describes one such occasion. Jesus was present as a guest. Being a desert region, people would trek long distances through hot and dusty roads to reach their destination. The result would be that they arrived with dirty feet and would need that cleaned before entering the house. The feet-washing exercise, though, was the job of the house's servants. Jesus was already in, and feasting had begun when a twist came in the day's programme. A woman came in, went to Jesus, knelt at His feet, poured the entire content of an alabaster box on His feet and wiped them with her long hair. It was a noble cause considering that the feet-washing ceremony was not done when Jesus entered the house. Did she know that, or was she playing out a script? We do not need to answer the question, but we do have to consider the reactions that trailed the womans' gesture. Someone called her action a waste seeing the perfume was worth a year's salary. Another secretly queried the authenticity of Jesus' ministry. If He was indeed a prophet, He should know that the woman should not come near. But, wait, were they not all in the Pharisee's house? When did he become a saint? Plus, the fellow who thought her generosity was wasteful, we are told, did not care about the poor. It was all a hypocritical outlook.