362:1 IT is related in the seventh chapter of Luke's Gospel that Jesus was once the honored guest of a certain 362:3 Pharisee, by name Simon, though he was quite unlike Simon the disciple. While they were at meat, an unusual incident occurred, as if to interrupt the scene 362:6 of Oriental festivity. A "strange woman" came in. Heedless of the fact that she was debarred from such a place and such society, especially under the stern 362:9 rules of rabbinical law, as positively as if she were a Hin- doo pariah intruding upon the household of a high-caste Brahman, this woman (Mary Magdalene, as she has 362:12 since been called) approached Jesus. According to the custom of those days, he reclined on a couch with his head towards the table and his bare feet away from it. 362:15 It was therefore easy for the Magdalen to come behind 363:1 the couch and reach his feet. She bore an alabaster jar containing costly and fragrant oil, - sandal oil perhaps, 363:3 which is in such common use in the East. Breaking the sealed jar, she perfumed Jesus' feet with the oil, wiping them with her long hair, which hung loosely 363:6 about her shoulders, as was customary with women of her grade. Parable of the creditor Did Jesus spurn the woman? Did he repel her adora- 363:9 tion? No! He regarded her compassionately. Nor was this all. Knowing what those around him were saying in their hearts, especially his host, 363:12 - that they were wondering why, being a prophet, the exalted guest did not at once detect the woman's immoral status and bid her depart, - knowing this, Jesus rebuked 363:15 them with a short story or parable. He described two debtors, one for a large sum and one for a smaller, who were released from their obligations by their common 363:18 creditor. "Which of them will love him most?" was the Master's question to Simon the Pharisee; and Simon re- plied, "He to whom he forgave most." Jesus approved 363:21 the answer, and so brought home the lesson to all, follow- ing it with that remarkable declaration to the woman, "Thy sins are forgiven." Divine insight