News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1920-11-17

This very Simon
WHO dimes him refers to him, with
half-veiled contempt, as "this man,
and answers question of Jesus with
nm Indifferent, 81 suppose" But b.
W. Robertson has we'll said: HE
)lighted Pharisaism with irony ana
errible invective. But to the actual
living. Pharisee, how tenderly dld ne
express himself! Simon, have some
what to say unto thee. So far as
he is man, he is an object OF IN
finite pity and tenderness"
How unlikely to find woman
which was a sinner" in Pharisee's
house! The secret is found In the
statement: "When she knew that
Jesus sat at meat in the Pharlsee'S
house. she brought an -alabaster Dox
of ointment" While Simon woulo
have scorned such a creature lest she
contamjnate him, the sinless Son OF
Man welcomed her. The law has
only condemnation for sinners, Dut
the grace of God bringeth salvation.
1t is evident this was not the WON"
ans first meeting with the Savior.
When speaking of her, Jesus says:
"Her sins, which are many, are for"
given" literally, "have been forgiven"
". AZ. Perhaps she had heard him
say: Come unto me all We that labor
and are heavy laden" or similar
words, and through faith her sins
were washed away
Hence, she now seeks him out, even
in Simon's house, and takes her place
at his feet as he reclines at meat.
Standing there, her tears of penitence
and gratitude begin to flow, falling
upon his feet. Then, as If her very
tears might defile him. she lets down
her hair, although it was shame fof
woman to be seen with disheveled
hair and wipes his feet. Not only
so, she covered them with kisses, as
the word implies and anointed them
from a cruise of precious ointmenf
which hung about her neck.
How moving, to recall that this very
ointment may have been purchased
with the price of her shame! The
law forbad a strange woman to bring
her hire into the house of the Lord
for any vow CDeut. % :1S), but the
lord of the house allows the penitent
to pour it upon his very person.
Simon is sure now that Christ is no
for he does not know the
is a sinner. Jesus startles him
nv showing he knows his very
thoughts. and answering" them gives
him the illustration of the two debt
ors: Simon confesses that the one
forgiven most will love the most.
Jesus anplies the illustration directly.
Simon had no water for Christ's feet,
but the woman washed them with her
tears and wiped them with her hair
Simon had no kiss for his guest Lu5
the woman kissed his feet. Simon
had no oil, which was cheap, for
rhrist's feet but the woman anointed
them with precious ointment where
fore I say unto thee, her sins, which
ire many, are forgiven, for she loved
much. but to whom little is forgiven,
the same loveth little. And he said
into ner, IHy Slllo are Loi SiNeh'
After all, the woman was no longer
, skinner" but a lover of the Savior.
And Simon, if he had only known 1t,
vas still in his sins. He did not love
Christ. because he had never been
forgiven, for he had never repented.
Mercy for ProdigaIs.
Mark Twain wrote story in which
,e satirized the affection lavished up
m prodigal son, while a self-respect-
ng boy was allowed to struggle on un-
aided We know that sympathy is
sometimes sentimental and maudlin.
3ut we are glad, too, that the divine
,ess of mercy is not therefore OBJ
,cured. "Joy shall be in heaven over
me sinner that repenteth more than
,yer ninety and nine just persons
which need no repentance" And If
men complain of this. Jesus says, as
ecorded just before this story duke
.35) "Wisdom is justified of all her
We need not be "prodigals" TO be-
,ome great lovers of Christ. Each
Ieart knows its own depths of sin and
Inbelief. and the saints contend
Imong themselves as TO which has
zen most forgiven and as to which
therefore, should love most.
Note, the woman was not forgiven
because she loved. but loved because
he was forgiven. Jesus said: "Thy
aith hath saved thee" not her love.
lie bids her. "Go in Tor, into) peace"
IS into a new region of life and
lessedness.
Men said of Christ, complainingly:
This man receiveth sinners" How
e. .,r,l,- q, r.nr, hn rncnir-o