Memory of the Church

Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

I am the good shepherd,
my sheep listen to my voice,
and they become
one flock and one fold.
.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Luke 7,36-50

One of the Pharisees invited him to a meal. When he arrived at the Pharisee's house and took his place at table, suddenly a woman came in, who had a bad name in the town. She had heard he was dining with the Pharisee and had brought with her an alabaster jar of ointment. She waited behind him at his feet, weeping, and her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them away with her hair; then she covered his feet with kisses 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 this woman is and what sort of person it is who is touching him and what a bad name she has.' Then Jesus took him up and said, 'Simon, I have something to say to you.' He replied, 'Say on, Master.' 'There was once a creditor who had two men in his debt; one owed him five hundred denarii, the other fifty. They were unable to pay, so he let them both off. Which of them will love him more?' Simon answered, 'The one who was let off more, I suppose.' Jesus said, 'You are right.' Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, 'You see this woman? I came into your house, and you poured no water over my feet, but she has poured out her tears over my feet and wiped them away with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses ever since I came in. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. For this reason I tell you that her sins, many as they are, have been forgiven her, because she has shown such great love. It is someone who is forgiven little who shows little love.' Then he said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.' Those who were with him at table began to say to themselves, 'Who is this man, that even forgives sins?' But he said to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you; go in peace.'

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

I give you a new commandment,
that you love one another.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

While Jesus is at table--invited by Simon the Pharisee--a prostitute comes close to him and anoints his feet with perfume while weeping. Bias against women was absolutely prevalent at Jesus' time. One can understand therefore the reaction of those present when faced with Jesus' welcoming of the woman. In truth, it was they who understood neither that woman's love and her desire to be forgiven nor the love of Jesus. Contrary to the current mentality, Jesus, who reads in the secret of hearts, understood the woman's love, welcomed her and forgave her. We could say that Jesus really goes against the current. And he also teaches his disciples to do so. To make them understand his feelings he recounts the short parable of the two debtors: one who had to pay 500 denarii and the other, 50. Neither one of them could pay the debt. And both of them are pardoned regardless. Jesus then asks Simon the Pharisee, which of the two loves the master more. The parable supposes that the two, both the Pharisee and the sinful woman, have received something from Jesus. Jesus invites us to not think we are right or not little sinful. Just the opposite he calls us to open our eyes to our sin and to feel, like that sinful woman, the need to be forgiven. Yes, we too need to hear: "Your sins are forgiven." And we will understand even more the words that Jesus says on that occasion, "Her many sins were forgiven, for she has loved much." Love, in fact, erases sins and changes our lives.