A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him,
and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.
Now there was a sinful woman in the city
who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee.
Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment,
she stood behind him at his feet weeping
and began to bathe his feet with her tears.
Then she wiped them with her hair,
kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself,
“If this man were a prophet,
he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him,
that she is a sinner.”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“Simon, I have something to say to you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
“Two people were in debt to a certain creditor;
one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty.
Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both.
Which of them will love him more?”
Simon said in reply,
“The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.”
He said to him, “You have judged rightly.”
Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon,
“Do you see this woman?
When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet,
but she has bathed them with her tears
and wiped them with her hair.
You did not give me a kiss,
but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.
You did not anoint my head with oil,
but she anointed my feet with ointment.
So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven
because she has shown great love.
But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”
He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
The others at table said to themselves,
“Who is this who even forgives sins?”
But he said to the woman,
“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another,
preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.
Accompanying him were the Twelve
and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities,
Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza,
Susanna, and many others who provided for them
out of their resources. LK 7:36-8:3
Today, we leave the Sermon on the Mount and go to a Gospel about God’s mercy and how God’s perspective on mercy is different than ours. We are much like the man Simon who judges the woman who anoints Jesus’ feet with ointment. We judge the prostitute, the kid who gets in trouble all of the time, the drunk, the murderer, people that live in certain areas, the homeless yet God sees us all the same, as sinners. All sins are forgivable. You and I and all the others can’t pay our debt of sin back to God. So, God decided to send His only Son to save all. He did not choose certain people to show mercy and forgive. Jesus died for all. The woman recognizes who she is, a sinner, and who Jesus is, the One who forgives all sins, and she does it right. She is moved by the Spirit and repents by anointing Jesus’ feet and kissing them, a great act of faith and sorrow. Jesus’ response, “Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” How we all long for this love. It is a personal response and Christ is waiting for us with open arms like the father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. May we in turn then stop judging and forgive, especially the greatest sinners.
Who followed Him with the 12, woman who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities? How did they support the group? They provided for them out of their resources (Stewardship). Who stayed with Him to the foot of the Cross? The women. Who was the first to see Him at the resurrection? Mary Magdalene. Women have a huge role in the Catholic faith and as followers of Christ. God has given man and women each their own role, may we understand our roles and fulfill them.
Today’s challenge: Reflect on God’s mercy and how many times He has forgiven you. Reflect on ways you can forgive others better. Get involved in prison ministry or sign up to help out Passageways for homeless veterans. The greater the sin forgiven the more love that is given.
Be a servant, become a saint!
#Christian YOLO
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