Preaching and the Land - Luke 7:36-8:3

This coming Sunday, we will honor fathers.  Yet the lectionary text for June 16 tells us not of heroic men but faithful women.  Herein lie the stories of an unidentified woman, Mary Magadalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many others.
 Here's what the Fifth Gospel tells us about these stories:

• Matthew and Mark identify the city as Bethany
• John identifies the woman as Mary if this is indeed a one-time event
• Matthew identifies the host as Simon the leper
• Bethany seems to have been the village closest to Jerusalem in which the Law permitted accommodations for lepers
• The woman is a "known" sinner yet welcomed by Jesus further supporting the charges of "friend of tax collectors and sinners" and "if this man were a prophet"
• The woman's anointing action is one of the five acts of hospitality in the 1st century
• Jesus' response to the Pharisee identifies other acts as washing of feet and the holy kiss
• The host did offer drink and food but obviously with a disdain for his guest
• The other charge against Jesus herein is that he forgives sinners
• Jesus' forgiveness of sin is that of God's and evokes such grateful and prodigious acts as that of the woman
• The line of faithful disciples includes this woman and others identified in 8:1-3
• The women are just a few who provide for Jesus "out of their means"