Love, Beyond Healing Poem by Paul Sebastian

Her restless soul
Searched a home
To find rest:
Her soul, parched, thirsted.
About Jesus, she had heard:
His healing love was assured.
Her restless soul, all sin-laden
Rushed to Pharisee Simon’s residence:
She hurled herself down in His presence.

At His feet
Wept she did:
Copious tears gushed out in her brokenness,
Seeking compassionate mercy and forgiveness,
Poured her tears on His feet, in loving kindness
Paying full measure, her indebtedness
Kissed and wiped His feet with her hair
Unmindful of witnesses’ uncaring stare
Poured precious oil from a broken alabaster jar
Saved for use for a special moment thus far

Visibly moved, turning to Simon,
Jesus posed a question:
Of the two debtors pardoned
Which of the two was more loved?
The one pardoned more, Simon supposed.
Jesus acknowledged, for Simon had rightly answered.

Jesus reasoned with Simon:
On entering your house, you did greet,
But poured no water on my feet
This woman poured her tears on my feet
She hair- wiped and repeatedly kissed
You did not anoint my head with oil;
She anointed my feet with priced oil.
Simon, though her sins are many
Her imprisoned soul longs to be free
Her sins must have forgiven her.
Like Father to a prodigal daughter,
His love embraced her
Whereupon He said:
Your sins are forgiven;
Your faith has saved thee…
Go in peace.
Others there, questioned:
Who is He, to forgive?
But, failed to see
Who He really is.

For only God forgives sins
Saves and heals
In Him there’s peace
She sought Him at His feet:
There, forgiven, saved and healed.