"John the Baptizer didn't eat bread nor drink wine. You said he was possessed by devils. I am here drinking and eating. No doubt you'll say that I am a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of the tax collectors."

The old Pharisee laughed good-naturedly. "You are very perceptive, Rabbi. But at the same time. these are Your comrades."

It still seemed illogical to Matthew why he decided to show up to the banquet. Jesus had chosen to go despite Matthew saying He'd have a high chance of not eating any food. He'd opted to sit and watch, instead of recline. None of their enemies in Capernaum came to the banquet, but Matthew and the others saw thinly veiled jabs from their host.

"He didn't give Him the kiss of peace. He didn't even wash His feet!" Matthew whispered.

"You were right," Simon nodded, begrudgingly. "This is just scoping. I hate that I share my name with that man."

Just then, Matthew and Simon felt someone brush against them. A woman stood beside them, bedecked in jewelry and carrying an alabaster jug."Where is Jesus the Nazarene? I was told He was here."

"Um, miss, you realize this is the home of a Pharisee? Not exactly your type-"

Matthew shook his head, then turned to the woman. "He's the man with the two rabbis flanking Him."

The woman bowed in thanks, then turned to find Jesus. Once she found Him, she dropped to her knees, broke open the jar, and anointing Jesus. A dead silence fell on the talkative group of men at the table.

In the shadows, Simon descended on Matthew, "Brilliant, now we have a 100% chance of getting kicked out."

"I couldn't turn her away! Not after what happened to me."

Simon could only nod, helplessly. He expected the worst. But now Jesus spoke.

"I have something to say to you, Simon."

The host nodded.

"There were two men who owed money to a certain man. One owed 500 days pay, the other fifty. Neither had the money to pay, so he forgave the debts. Which debtor will love him more?"

Simon the Pharisee answered for all. "I'd say...that the man who owed 500 days pay would love him more."

The Master nodded approvingly, then turned to the woman. "Do you see this woman?"

And Simon and Matthew couldn't help that the rebuke was for both of them as well. "I came into your house, and you didn't even wash My feet. She has washed them with her tears and dried them with her hair. You didn't give me the kiss of peace; she hasn't stopped kissing My Feet. You didn't anoint My Head with oil: she has anointed my feet with perfume" and now He lifted her head, so she could look at Him, "So I say to you that her many sins have been forgiven, and she has loved greatly as a result. But," He looked at the Pharisees, and at Matthew and Simon, "he who has been forgiven little, loves little."

Matthew hadn't stopped the woman, but He would've stopped Jesus from meeting her. His lack of trust, he realized, made him no better than Rabbi Simon. His fellow Apostle had realized the same thing as well.

But now Jesus spoke to the woman: "Daughter, your sins, are forgiven."

Now the silence turned to audible murmuring, but Jesus acted like He didn't hear them.

"Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."

The woman still cried, but a beatific smile played on her face. She bowed in thanks, then got up and turned to go, but not before acknowledging Simon and Matthew.

The two brother Apostles grinned. The dinner was lost, but the lost coin had been found.