Jesus has just
arrived after a journey
and is standing
outside a clay and mud house
It is creeping
into evening
and he slowly
turns himself about
taking deep
breaths of the cooling air
heavy with honeysuckle
and dust
He pauses and
closes his eyes as he breaths the evening laden atmosphere
The white hills
around the village are fading into relaxed evening brown and the
brightest ruby sun gently bounces over the hills
in a silent
performance of slow-motion
Jesus watches as
it rolls over the edge
and leaves behind
it the palest palette of yellow mixed with pink and feathery strokes
of purple ribboned through the sky
He watches the
hues flow
and merge
and quietly drain
of their colour
as the deepest
velvet pushes them towards another horizon somewhere else
And the cool leaks
over his face
as the shadows climb
Look into Jesus
face as a breeze blows back his hair
and his eyes
reflect the cascade of the last of the sunset's colours
Feel it refresh
and soothe
The air is rich
with smells
What do you smell?
Flowers
dust
sweat after a long journey
lamb with
coriander and cumin
baked pitta bread
wine
Feel those aromas
taste the air
The dust round
Jesus' feet is cooling
Look down at them
see the dirt round
his sandals
round his toenails
yellowed
ragged
His tunic
dusty too
A wheel of sandal
prints in the sand
where he has
turned round on the spot
The small wooden
door opens
as a Pharisee
bends before him
bowing
His black robes
darkening the door way
He comes out and
holds Jesus shoulders
'Jesus' he says'
'Simon' replies Jesus
and they kiss each
other on the cheeks
the usual Jewish greeting
What do they say
next to each other?
What is the look
on their faces?
The Pharisee turns
towards the house
puts a hand on
Jesus shoulder
and leads him into it
What's it like inside?
It takes a wee
moment to adjust to the smoky dimness inside
The floor
covered in straw
it is musty
and heavy
Is it warm from cooking
close
and the smell
richer now
heavy with spice
and dough
and straw
and people
There are noises
What are they?
Cooking
the soft shuffle
of voices
the wet breathing
of animals
the business of
circling flies
Are there other people?
Where are they standing?
Are they guests?
What about servants?
Jesus slips off
his sandals at the door
and is led into
the room
He lies down on
the couch Simon shows him
and he makes
himself comfortable
resting on his
left side
leaning on his
left elbow
Are there other
people there already lying on mats or couches
ready to enjoy the feast?
Jesus is the guest
of honour
What are the
servants doing all about the place?
excited that Jesus
has arrived because they have heard about him?
Is someone
attending him?
Is there is polite chat?
What are they
saying to each other?
Are the guests smiling
and does Jesus laugh?
Politely
or heartily?
Does he roll his
head back as he laughs?
Can you smell the straw?
Simon snaps his fingers
and a servant
comes out of the flickering shadows made by the dancing candle light
He nods
and a few seconds later
there are wooden
platters of bread
clay bowls of
vegetables in oil
and goblets placed
by each guests
And each uses
their right hand to stretch and take mouthfuls of food
They still talk
they still laugh
but the
conversation quietens and the Pharisee looks up suddenly behind where
Jesus is lying
Jesus notices this
and tries to look behind him
over his shoulder
but he can't seen
what's happening
He turns to look
at his host
Jesus' eye's
shifting between him and the others who can see behind him
The Pharisee tries
to keep the conversation going
But sliding out of
the shadows
slowly walks an
apprehensive woman
Long brown hair
She hesitates as
she looks round the room
searching for something
or someone
Jesus tries to
look around again
as the
conversation deaden
shifting slightly
so he can see
She sees him move
and tilts her head
towards him
The room is silent
with maybe one or
two whispers from the other guests
What other noises
can you hear
breathing
chat from the
other rooms or courtyard
the twisting of
the girls hands clutched to her stomach
In the half light
you can see her
torn clothes
They are also very dusty
and dirty
been won for a while
Look at her eyes
they are large
apprehensive as
they dart around the room
What's the look on
Jesus face at the sight of her?
Is he smiling at her?
Pensive?
Does he feel for her?
Is he wondering
what's going on?
The woman pauses
as her eyes finally settle on the Pharisee
Is she judging the situation?
Will she get away
with whatever she is going to do?
She fixes a stare
on the Pharisee
who is about to
get up
But that's her
queue to get to Jesus' feet
There she goes
down on her knees
and reveals what
both her hands had been clutching
She takes the top
off the jar
and pours oil on
his feet
and with her hands
she caresses
and massages his feet
Can you smell the oil
the perfume?
What kind of
memories does it provoke
What is Jesus doing
The Pharisee is up
on his feet
but Jesus lifts
his hand and stops him
The woman has put
down the jar
and has taken her
long hair
and bending her
whole head over his glistening feet
begins to wipe them
softly
you can't see her face
but her movements
are relaxed
confident
accepted
as she bobbs up
and down in her ministrations
Yet her shoulders judder
The shadow of the
Pharisee falls over her
She looks up
Her eyes are dark brown
and there are
streaks down her face
where tears have
been falling
What do you see in
her face?
What do you want
to do?
What is the look
on Simon's face
He moves again
Jesus stops him again
Listen to the conversation
a story
a question about love
and who loves more
the one with the
bigger debt
Jesus reaches
towards the woman
As he does so he
swings round
and sits in an
upright position
and reaches
towards the woman
Listen to what he
says next about feet-washing
about what this
woman has done with her tears
that Simon hasn't
What are the
reactions of the other guests?
The look on the
Simon's face?
Listen to what
Jesus says to the woman
'Your sins are forgiven'
How does that sound
'Your sins are forgiven'
What's the look on
her face
'Your sins are forgiven'
How is Jesus
looking at her
What are the other
guests saying?
Are they arguing
about whose authority Jesus has
or are they silent?
But you are there
in the room
you step out of
the shadows too
and while the
others are discussing
unseen to them
but noticed by Jesus
you catch his eye
He looks at you
What is the look
on his face?
Is there something
you want to say to Jesus?
If there is
you have a chance
to speak to him now
No one else is listening
The woman is still
there and will hear if you want her to hear
Jesus is looking
right at you
Speak to him now
And what does
Jesus say?
How does he respond?
Spend time
watching and listening for that response
Take a length of time
After a while
you notice there
is no one else there
You are on your own
Jesus has listened
and heard
You get up and
move across the room towards the door
You open it and
you see a group of people beyond it
in a hall in Clydebank
sitting together
reflecting
In your own time
come back to us here
and spend a while
reflecting on what has happened
Has it spoken to
you about your life or relationship?
Has it changed the
way you feel?
How has it been?
Write your
feelings down if you wish
or talk to someone
Come back and in
your own time
gently open your eyes
