Beloved of God,

The Scripture Lessons for the Second Sunday in Lent are:
 
Luke 7:36-50 Woman with the alabaster jar washes Jesus’ feet
Matthew 25:35-40 “Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me”
 
Simon and some Pharisees host a dinner for Jesus, and an unexpected guest arrives: a woman from the city who kneels at Jesus' feet and washes him with expensive perfume. Simon scoffs at this party foul, but Jesus reorients his focus, asking him to truly see the woman and recognize that she has shown “great love,” offering the tender hospitality he was not granted when he entered Simon’s home. The woman with the alabaster jar shows a shocking, extravagant love that exemplifies the greatest commandment: to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself. Will the other guests see that loving God goes hand in hand with loving neighbor? This story is paired with Jesus’ words in Matthew 25, When we care for the hungry, the naked, the imprisoned – each of whom is created in the image of God – we are showing love for God, too.
 
This is the season of Lent. The liturgical color, for the pastor's stole and paraments (cloth hanging from the pulpit and lectern) is purple, symbolizing the purity and divinity royalty of Christ.

In God’s Love, Rev. Amie