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PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Jesus, teach me to show love in big gestures -- and also in small, everyday ones! Amen.

Jesus was eating at a friend's house when a woman came in who was known to be a serious sinner. She washed Jesus' feet with her tears, dried them with her hair and put expensive lotion on them. People complained that she had wasted the lotion, but Jesus said, "She has shown great love. Her many sins have been forgiven."

Graduation decorations are everywhere. If you want goofy sunglasses that say "Class of 2016" on them or a banner that spells out "C-O-N-G-R-A-T-U-L-A-T-I-O-N-S," they're easy to find. Some families go big in celebrating their graduates, getting lots of swag to show their pride.

The woman Jesus meets in this week's Gospel (Luke 7:36-8:3) would probably buy out the party supply store. She obviously believes in making big gestures to show her feelings!

Whether you're moving up a grade or graduating from elementary, middle or high school, graduation time can feel significant for everyone. You've finished one grade and are moving on to another, or finishing school entirely. That's important! You may hope your family puts up decorations and has a big cake.

In the Gospel story, a woman wants to show Jesus that she has moved on -- in this case, from sinning. She has done things she's ashamed of, and she wants Him to know that He has changed her life and she won't be doing bad things anymore.

Like a family putting up graduation decorations, the woman goes all-out. She washes Jesus' feet, dries them with her hair instead of a towel, and puts expensive lotion on them.

Some families that don't usually go big put up decorations at graduation time because it's a way to show how very proud they are of their graduate. The woman in the Gospel needed to make a big gesture, too; and when people criticized, Jesus told them to stop. Sometimes, showing great love can involve spending a little money -- even on "Class of 2016" sunglasses![[In-content Ad]]

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