Jesus turned and looked at her. He had not known she was hiding in the darkness behind him. Her tears fell on his feet. She loosed the cord that tied her hair. With its long waves she gently wiped Jesus' feet. Symeon, usually dignified, was irritated. "What kind of nonsense is this?" he asked as he rose from his couch. Jesus turned to him. "Do not rebuke her," he requested. _That is the trouble with leaving the door open_, thought Symeon. _Women like this are bound to get in_. Everyone there knew her. She had a bad reputation in the city. Symeon felt humiliated to have such a person in his house. _This Nazarene certainly knows all the worst people_, reflected the young Pharisee cynically. Suddenly a lovely fragrance filled the room. The woman had broken open a bottle of precious perfume and recklessly poured every drop on Jesus' feet. _Such waste!_ thought Symeon angrily, realizing what she had done. _I wonder if the Nazarene has any idea where she got the money to buy this oil!_ But he said nothing because he was very polite. Jesus turned to his host. "Symeon," he said, "I have something to say to you." "What is it, Teacher?" asked the Pharisee. "There was once a man who loaned money," said Jesus. "One of his debtors owed him two hundred and fifty dollars; another owed him twenty-five dollars." The guests were listening closely. "Neither of these men could pay back the money, so the lender said to both of them: 'I forgive you your debts. You don't need to pay me back at all.'" He paused and then asked, "Now which of these two men would be more grateful?" "Why, naturally, the man who owed more money would be more grateful," replied Symeon without hesitating. "Right!" said Jesus. "When I came into your house you didn't even offer to wash my feet--and everyone does that for his guest! But this woman has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair! "You didn't welcome me with a kiss--and everyone greets his guest that way!" He pointed to the woman. "But she has been kissing my feet. "You didn't anoint my head with oil--and everyone does that for his guest! But this woman has poured precious perfume on my feet!" Jesus' voice was quiet, but all the Pharisees could sense the force of his words when he said: "She has committed many sins, but they are all forgiven and now her heart is full of love." Then Jesus spoke directly to Symeon and each word seemed to strike him like a blow. "But a man whose sins are not forgiven has no love in his heart." Then he said very gently to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven." Symeon's face burned hot. Never had anyone spoken like this to him! He was troubled by the suggestion that he was a sinner. All his life he had done his best to obey the Law. Had he not always prided himself on his good actions?