In the Gospel for this Sunday a woman anoints Jesus with oil. Weeping and kissing his feet, she asks him for forgiveness (Luke 7:36-50). Her way of asking for forgiveness is to touch; Jesus’ way of giving it is to allow her to do so. In our society, touch is something of which we are deeply suspicious. A child fell down on the pavement in front of me and my first instinct was to draw back for fear of being seen to act inappropriately. Watford Council has even banned parents from playing with their children in council recreation areas on the basis that they had not been CRB checked. A fear of touch comes from a lack of trust and a renewal of one will lead to a restoration of the other. Therein lies the redemptive possibilities within this Gospel story.

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