Gospel: Luke 7:36-50
A certain 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;
hence, 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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
The Mass intention is for Deceased Sisters of Nazareth RIP.
Reflection:
The unnamed woman, in today’s Gospel (often misidentified as St Mary Magdalene) has made a show in a Pharisee’s house. The host and other guests were overtaken by their prejudice against the woman. But Jesus praised the woman for her great love, forgave her sins, and told her to “go in peace”. We do not know exactly what or how grave this woman’s fault was, but it seems that she was of ill repute. Regardless, she gate crashed into the party to express her love to our Merciful Lord. All of us have turned against God and yet, day after day, He keeps on forgiving and giving us the chance to change for the better. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God continues to pour His Mercy on His people. We do not need to gate crash into His presence. He is always waiting to welcome us!
- When was your last confession?
- How do you express your love to our forgiving Lord?
- What is your first reaction when someone with bad reputation turns up in church for Mass?
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. Grant us the grace to see our need to be forgiven and to welcome those who wish to be reconciled with You. Amen.
Sincerely,
Pietro
