Lk.7:44-48 – And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss; but she has not stopped kissing My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” And He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.”

It’s not decisive but many think this is the story of Mary Magdalene; we actually see her called by name for the first time in the next chapter of Luke. If it is not the Magdalene it is certainly one who was quite like her. She would have been the opposite of the man hosting the party, Simon the Pharisee was a public figure in this town whereas this woman was a woman of the night. She would be the subject of rumors not a respected member of the community like Simon. That’s what is so moving about the ministry of Jesus, He always chooses the least likely to follow Him and ultimately impact their world. If this was Mary this couldn’t be more shocking, a prostitute ultimately becomes the first witness of the resurrection. Here is how Ambrose describes this shocking moment.

“A kiss is a mark of love.…He truly kisses Christ’s feet who, in reading the Gospel, recognizes the acts of the Lord Jesus and admires them with holy affection. With a reverent kiss, he caresses the footprints of the Lord as he walks. We kiss Christ, therefore, in the kiss of
Communion: “Let him who reads understand.” …The church does not cease to kiss Christ’s feet and demands not one but many kisses in the Song of Songs. Since like blessed Mary she listens to his every saying, she receives his every word when the Gospel or the Prophets are read, and she keeps all these words in her heart. The church alone has kisses, like a bride. A kiss is a pledge of nuptials and the privilege of wedlock.”

This woman had lived her entire life in the shadows, covering her sins and fighting for survival. All she knew was rejection and hatred, especially from Simon and his friends. The Pharisees despised people like her and threatened to have her stoned for her sins. That’s why this was such an unusual moment, in the least likely of all places, in Simon’s house, Mary was kissing the feet of Jesus. His mercy was bigger than judgement, forgiveness and acceptance had triumphed over condemnation, this woman had come out of the shadows into the light of God’s love.