One night when I was very ill with Covid, out of nowhere, it seemed, the vision of this poem came to me. I thought of the woman in Luke 7 who anointed Jesus’ feet. And it just came to me like never before that, in Jesus, God was physically present in our world and to people. I like this story because of the physicality of it. Christ is truly present to us.
A Sinful Woman Who Loved Much*
My tears made mud on his dusty feet.
My hair caked with dirt paths he trod.
My sighs rode the wind of the air he breathed.
My hands touched the face of God.**
His eyes entered mine to unlock my grave.
His feet didn’t shrink from my touch.
He smiled like a child,*** held the love I gave.
How did he forgive so much?!
(This poem is from GLIMPSING GLORY : Poems of Living & Dying, Praying & Playing, Belonging & Longing ©2020)
*Based on the story in Luke 7:36-50.
**Jesus was the “face of God” given to humankind, making God personal, approachable, and knowable for each of us.
***As the Child (or Son) of God, Jesus was innocent, pure, trusting
This post appeared at GodSpace on February 13, 2020, slightly revised.
Dear Catherine,
This poem really touched my heart. Thank you so much for sharing it.
Beautiful, Catherine!!!
Powerful!
Thank you for the marvellous poetic insight that provides new understanding of the heart of a needy woman and her encounter with Jesus. A fresh breath of inspiration.