The Guest
Preaching the “good news" – Jesus in our world today
Cecilia Crittenden, OP
Well now let’s get down to the business at hand and find out a little about you, Jesus. We’ve been hearing a lot of good things – right folks? – but some disturbing ones, too, and I’m thinking right now about that incident that happened last week at Simon the Pharisee’s house – another quite famous person. Unfortunately he refused to be on our show, so we’ll have to depend on you to tell us what happened. I don’t want to embarrass you, Jesus, so just stop me if I’m making you uncomfortable.
Jesus Go right ahead, ask whatever you want. I’ll answer to the best of my knowledge.
Host: That’s mighty decent of you, Jesus. I know all the folks here in our audience, and those listening in, would like to hear it from you, from the horses mouth so to speak (slight laughter from the audience). Now, Jesus, I understand the way it all began you got an invitation to dinner at Simon’s house. Are you a personal friend of Simon’s?
Jesus: No, not really. Of course I’d heard about him and read about him in the papers but we’d never formally met.
Host: Well didn’t you think it a little unusual to be invited to dinner at his house?
Jesus: No, I know Simon must have heard about me and my work and was anxious to meet me but he didn’t want to be part of the crowd that comes to hear me. I suspect he invited me out of curiosity and to show me off to his friends, sort of a prize guest.
Host: I see. Were any of your followers invited?
Jesus: No.
Host: How’d they feel about that? Those 12 men seem to be with you every place you go.
Jesus: They were a little put out. They thought I shouldn’t go but I told them I’d probably get a good meal. (laughter from the host and audience).
Host: I’ve always had the best every time I’ve gone to Simon’s. I understand the incident with the woman took place soon after you arrived.
Jesus: That’s right but I wouldn’t call it an incident - better to say an act of love.
Host: An act of love? That’s a different way of putting it! I understand she sought you out and rushed in even though the servants tried to stop her. Did you know her?
Jesus: Yes I knew her.
Host: I gather from the pictures in the paper she’s quite a looker. But you said you knew her. I believe the papers quoted you as saying that’s the first time you met her.
Jesus: Yes it was the first time I’d met her but I’d seen her before. She came to the hillside to hear me preach.
Host: You’re telling me you could pick her out of all that crowd that goes to hear you preach! That’s quite remarkable.
Jesus: Not really. I have the gift of seeing those whose hearts are troubled and who are unhappy.
Host: That’s quite a gift but then she is a looker so I guess she’d be noticeable. (laughter from the audience) We’ll be right back folks to hear more about Jesus and the “looker,” so stay tuned. (Pause for commercials)
Host: All right Jesus let’s continue. You were saying you noticed her because she was quite a looker.
Jesus: Yes she’s very beautiful but that isn’t why I noticed her. I noticed her because her heart was so sorrowful.
Host: So what did happen after she crashed the party.
Jesus: She came to me and knelt down in front of me. She was weeping and her tears were like a refreshing spring pouring over my feet. The cloak that was wrapped around her fell away from her. She placed her soft cheek against my roughened feet and then she began to dry my feet with the tresses of her hair
Host: Did you try to stop her? Did you say anything to her?
Jesus: No, I knew she needed to do this. It was an extravagant gesture of love.
Host: Don’t you know what kind of woman she is? Everyone knows her reputation, if you know what I mean. (titters from the audience)
Jesus: Yes, I know who she is. Did you know that as beautiful as she is, as we all see her she doesn’t think herself beautiful.
Host: You’re kidding.
Jesus: She sees herself as very unlovely, has since she was very young, from the first time she was used, abused by a man.
Host: Well Jesus you know an awful lot about her.
Jesus: Yes, she’s been deeply unhappy for many years.
Host: Well you’d never know it by the way she lives, she appears to have quite a lot of everything.
Jesus: I guess that’s part of what I’ve got to say to people, it isn’t what you’ve got or how much you’ve got that brings happiness.
Host: Well yes we all agree with that right folks (audience assents “yeah”) but about what happened at Simon’s. The papers said the little lady had a precious jar of ointment that she broke!
Jesus: Yes, she anointed my feet with it and the scent filled the whole house.
Host: Well now Jesus how’d you feel about that? I hear tell that was a very costly ointment. Why it could have been sold and the money used to take care of some of the poor you talk a lot about.
Jesus: As I said it was an extravagant gesture of love on her part. She was overcome with gratitude and love, for her many sins have been forgiven.
Host: Well I don’t know about the sin part but I do know she caused quite a commotion with all those religious leaders and some of our most upstanding citizens present.
Jesus: Yes, everyone was very critical of her.
Host: But not you?
Jesus: That’s right. I welcomed her presence, I welcomed her loving gesture. I wish the others had been able to see her as I do. You know people will talk about her loving gesture and remember her for many years to come.
Host: The way I see it these things blow over and are soon forgotten. Somebody else comes along and grabs the headlines.
Well our time is almost up. It’s been real good having you on the show Jesus. Right folks? (applause from the audience) You keep stirring up things the way you have been and we’ll have you back on the show, cause you’re making the news.
Jesus: I’ve come to tell the good news to all those who can hear, who will listen. Come to me all of you who are burdened and heavy hearted. I will refresh you.
Host: That’s it for today folks. If you’re interested in hearing more from Jesus he’s traveling around the country and might be in your area soon. Consult the papers for the time and place.
Good night from the talk show that brings you the very best. (loud clapping from the audience)