Begin Again: A Woman Weeps and Jesus Rewrites the Rules

This Sunday, we dive into a powerful moment in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus is at a dinner with the elite. You know—those who are polished, and respected. The air is filled with the right words, the right people, the right expectations.

And then—she walks in.

She wasn’t invited. But that doesn’t stop her. And she’s been through it. Her heart is broken, and she is desperate to be acknowledged. She doesn’t care about the rules of polite society. She’s done with pretending. She enters the room, and her eyes fixed on Jesus.

Without speaking a word, her tears speak volumes. With every drop that falls at Jesus’ feet, she pours out her love, her pain, her regret, and her hope.

Meanwhile, the people watch, judging. If Jesus only knew who she was...

But here’s the thing: Jesus does know. He knows exactly who she is. He knows the mistakes, the regrets, and where she’s been. Instead of turning away, instead of shunning her, Jesus welcomes her. He says, “Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

This is the story of everyone who’s ever felt unworthy, unseen, or uninvited. It’s the story of all of those who’ve been told they’re too much, or not enough, or that they have to clean themselves up before they can be loved.

I know this from my own experience. I’ve had moments where I’ve felt like I didn’t belong—like my mistakes were too big or my failures too many. But I’ve also felt God meet me in those moments, in the messiness of it all. Over time, I continue to learn that we don’t have to clean up our act to come to the table. We come as we are. Jesus says, You are enough. You are loved.

This Sunday, in this season of beginning again, let’s ask: What would it look like to show up as our real, unpolished selves? What would it feel like to drop the shame and let God’s grace wash over us and set us free? What if we open ourselves to the possibility that the God we worship is the one who rewrites the rules and invites us into something more beautiful and far more powerful than we ever imagined?

This Sunday, bring your whole heart—your joy, your pain, your questions, your fears. Bring the pieces of you that you’re afraid to show. There’s room for all of us.

Don’t miss what God has in store. See you Sunday, and bring a friend. We’re in this together.

Peace,

Pastor Katie