We continue our conversation looking at the story of Jesus and the dinner at the home of Simon the Pharisee in Luke 7.

"In receiving this woman’s love and not condemning her, the disdain that Simon and likely others feel for the woman goes over to Jesus. The identical thing happens in the interaction with Zacchaeus, because Jesus goes to his house and has dinner with him."

"Jesus is teaching Simon to look at another person – not to look at them as a category, a function of their morality or their political party, but to look at them as a person."

"The church has been 'in' this story for 2000 years, particularly learning how to value women and treating them as equals. Jesus is right at the same level of this woman. He’s not above her. And he, in fact, honors her. It’s been a journey for the church to learn how to do that."