---

Walter Stuck

Mary Magdalen

It was a beautiful day.
The sun was shining in a special manner.
For its gentle glow touched Him,
who is the Creator of all things.
The earth rejoiced.
The flowers cast their radiance upon the Lord.
Jesus had been invited to the house
of a rich Pharisee named Simon .
When the Master entered the dwelling,
Simon omitted the customary courtesies
and attentions usually given to a guest.
No water for His weary feet, no kiss of welcome.
No perfume for His hair, as it was the custom.
Just a gesture for Him
indicating a vacant place at the table.
Than she walked in! A sinner.
What had brought her to this house?
She knew that she would not be welcomed by most.
She was ashamed, trembling.
She did not dare to brush back her hair.
Yet she believed in love.
In forgiveness.
She knelt down before Jesus and upon
our Savior's feet a tear began to fall.
What joy this gesture of love gave to our Lord.
Then her tears started to flow.
Within them were all
the sorrows that her heart contained.
That she had offended Him,
who is all good.
With her hair she wiped away
the tears that had fallen.
Than she took out of her pocket
a bottle of precious ointment.
She gently rubbed it on Jesus' feet.
What care she took,
how her heart rejoiced to be near Him
who knew her better than any creature ever could.
She looked up into the Master's eyes
and she saw something she
had never experienced before.
Unconditional love.
She felt a touch within her heart, physically.
It would remain with her until the end of her days.
She was not the same person any longer.
Ever so gently she wiped our Lord's feet with her hair.
She longed that the moment would last forever.
Once more she looked at Him,
the Creator of all things and she rose.
Go and sin no more.