Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Congratulations with the feasts of the Resurrection of the Lord and of St. Mary of Egypt!

In memory of this wonderful saint, not one, but two Gospel readings were read today. The second excerpt, which is assigned for the feastdays of holy women, is especially relevant for the day of Mary of Egypt. She, like the unnamed woman from the Gospel, was a prostitute who came to know the divine power of Christ, repented from the heart, and with deep humility served Him.

This Gospel reading is very interesting. Only the Evangelist Luke records how this woman came to the house of Simon the Pharisee in Galilee and washed the Saviour’s feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair, and anointed them with ointment. Although only Luke writes about this, the three other evangelists describe similar events. (Matthew and Mark talk about this taking place in the house of Simon the Leper in Bethany, a few days before Christ’s death on the Cross. The myrrh was poured out not on His feet, but on His head. John records that the Mary, the sister of Lazarus, anointed His feet a week before the Cross, also in Bethany). The church fathers, the exegetes as well as the hymnographers, have very different understandings about these events. Some of them consider that all the evangelists are talking about one historical event, although the details do not align. Others think that there were two women (one about whom we heard today, and a second one who anointed Christ during Holy Week). Still others believe that there were three women (one in Galilee and two others in Bethany). These types of conundrums are very interesting and can help pull us into a deeper study of Holy Scripture.

There are many lessons for us in today’s reading. Let’s take note, as did the Saviour Himself, of the love that this woman had for Him. Her love was expressed in various ways. The Holy Hierarch Cyril of Alexandria writes that she came with a deep feeling of repentance. Heartfelt repentance, a desire and intention to sin no more, is perhaps the brightest sign of one’s love for God. Her dramatic actions, of which we heard in the Gospel, also wonderfully witness to her love. She touched with astonishing gentleness the dusty feet of the Lord, kissed them, and wiped them with her hair. Where else in the history of all mankind can we read about such love? Not only with tears did she shower Christ, but also with precious ointment, which she had bought. Finally, let’s think about her very unusual actions, which, without a doubt, must have caused those around her to cast suspicious and judgemental glances. All of this was of no concern to her, if only she could show her love towards Christ.

We could say that the main task of all of us is to love the Saviour. Today, taking as an example the woman from the Gospel narrative, let us cleanse ourselves from sins and not be ashamed to serve our Creator and Saviour.

priest Alexis