From: Luke 7:36-50

The Woman Who was a Sinner

[36] 0ne of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the
Pharisee’s house, and sat at table. [37] And behold, a woman of the city,
who was a sinner, when she learned that he was sitting at table in the
Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, [38] and standing
behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears;
and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed
them with the ointment. [39] Now when the Pharisee who had invited him
saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known
who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”
[40] And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to
you.” And he answered, “What is it, Teacher?” [41] “A certain creditor had
two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty. [42] When
they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now which of them will love him
more?” [43] Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more.”
And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” [44] Then turning toward the
woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house,
you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears
and wiped them with her hair. [45] You gave me no kiss, but from the time
I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. [46] You did not anoint my
head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. [47] Therefore I
tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven little, for she loved much;
but he who is forgiven, loves little.” [48] And he said to her, “Your sins are
forgiven.” [49] Then those who were at table with him began to say among
themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” [50] And he said to the
woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

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Commentary:

36-40. This woman, moved no doubt by grace, was attracted by Christ’s
preaching and by what people were saying about him.

When dining, people reclined on low divans leaning on their left arm
with their legs tucked under them, away from the table. A host was
expected to give his guest a kiss of greeting and offer him water for
his feet, and perfumes.

41-50. In this short parable of the two debtors Christ teaches us three
things—his own divinity and his power to forgive sins; the merit the
woman’s love deserves; and the discourtesy implied in Simeon’s
neglecting to receive Jesus in the conventional way. Our Lord was not
interested in these social niceties as such but in the affection which
they expressed; that was why he felt hurt at Simeon’s neglect.

“Jesus notices the omission of the expression of human courtesy and
refinement which the Pharisee failed to show him. Christ is perfectus
Deus, perfectus homo’ (”Athanasian Creed”). He is perfect God, the
second person of the Blessed Trinity, and perfect man. He comes to
save, not to destroy nature. It is from him that we learn that it is
unchristian to treat our fellow men badly, for they are creatures of God,
made in his image and likeness (Gen 1:26)” ([St] J. Escriva, “Friends
of God”, 73).

Moreover, the Pharisee was wrong to think badly of this sinner and of
Jesus: reckoning that Christ did not know anything about her, he
complained inwardly. Our Lord, who could read the secret thoughts of
men (which showed his divinity), intervened to point out to him his
mistake. True righteousness, says St Gregory the Great (cf. “In
Evangelia Homiliae”, 33), is compassionate; whereas false righteousness
is indignant. There are many people like this Pharisee: forgetting that
they themselves were or are poor sinners, when they see other people’s
sin they immediately become indignant, instead of taking pity on them,
or else they rush to judge them or sneer at them. They forget what St
Paul says: “Let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall”
(1 Cor 10:12); “Brethren, if any man is overtaken in any trespass, you
who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness [...]. Bear
one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 6:1- 2).

We should strive to have charity govern all our judgments. Otherwise,
we will easily be unjust towards others. “Let us be slow to judge. Each
one see things from his own point of view, as his mind, with all its
limitations, tells him, and through eyes that are often dimmed and
clouded by passion.... Of what little worth are the judgments of men!
Don’t judge without sifting your judgment in prayer” ([St] J. Escriva,
“The Way”, 451).

Charity and humility will allow us to see in the sins of others our own
weak and helpless position, and will help our hearts go out to the sorrow
of every sinner who repents, for we too would fall into sins as serious
or more serious if God in his mercy did not stay by our side.

“It was not the ointment that the Lord loved”, St Ambrose comments,
“but the affection; it was the woman’s faith that pleased him, her
humility. And you also, if you desire grace, increase your love; pour
over the body of Jesus Christ your faith in the Resurrection, the
perfume of the holy Church and the ointment of charity towards others”
(”Expositio Evangelii sec. Lucam, in loc.”).

47. Man cannot merit forgiveness for his sins because, since God is
the offended party, they are of infinite gravity. We need the sacrament
of Penance, in which God forgives us by virtue of the infinite merits of
Jesus Christ; there is only one indispensable condition for winning
God’s forgiveness—our love, our repentance. We are pardoned to the
extent that we love; when our heart is full of love there is no longer any
room in it for sin because we have made room for Jesus, and he says
to us as he said to this woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” Repentance
is a sign that we love God. But it was God who first loved us (cf.1 Jn
4:10). When God forgives us he is expressing his love for us. Our love
for God is, then, always a response to his initiative. By forgiving us God
helps us to be more grateful and more loving towards him. “He loves
little”, St Augustine comments, “who has little forgiven. You say that
you have not committed many sins: but why is that the case? [...] The
reason is that God was guiding you [...]. There is no sin that one man
commits, which another may not commit also unless God, man’s maker,
guides him” (”Sermon”, 99, 6). Therefore, we ought to fall ever more
deeply in love with our Lord, not only because he forgives us our sins
but also because he helps us by means of his grace not to commit
them.

50. Jesus declares that it was faith that moved this woman to throw
herself at his feet and show her repentance; her repentance wins his
forgiveness. Similarly, when we approach the sacrament of Penance
we should stir up our faith in the fact that it is “not a human but a divine
dialogue. It is a tribunal of divine justice and especially of mercy, with a
loving judge who ‘has no pleasure in the death of the wicked; I desire
that the wicked turn back from his way and live’ (Ezek 33:11)” ([St] J.
Escriva, “Christ Is Passing By”, 78).

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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

Readings at Mass

First reading

1 Timothy 4:12-16 ©

Do not let people disregard you because you are young, but be an example to the believers in the way you speak and behave, and in your love, your faith and your purity. Make use of the time until I arrive by reading to the people, preaching and teaching. You have in you a spiritual gift which was given to you when the prophets spoke and the body of elders laid their hands on you; do not let it lie unused. Think hard about all this, and put it into practice, and everyone will be able to see how you are advancing. Take great care about what you do and what you teach; always do this, and in this way you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.

Psalm

Psalm 110:7-10 ©

Great are the works of the Lord.

Alleluia!

His works are justice and truth,

his precepts are all of them sure,

standing firm for ever and ever;

they are made in uprightness and truth.

Great are the works of the Lord.

Alleluia!

He has sent deliverance to his people

and established his covenant for ever.

Holy his name, to be feared.

Great are the works of the Lord.

Alleluia!

To fear the Lord is the first stage of wisdom;

all who do so prove themselves wise.

His praise shall last for ever!

Great are the works of the Lord.

Alleluia!

Gospel Acclamation

2Co5:19

Alleluia, alleluia!

God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself,

and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled.

Alleluia!

Or	Mt11:28

Alleluia, alleluia!

Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened,

and I will give you rest, says the Lord.

Alleluia!

Gospel

One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to a meal. When he arrived at the Pharisee’s house and took his place at table, 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 that 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.’ ‘Speak, Master’ was the reply. ‘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 pardoned them both. Which of them will love him more?’ ‘The one who was pardoned more, I suppose’ answered Simon. Jesus said, ‘You are right.’

Then he turned to the woman. ‘Simon,’ he said ‘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, her many sins, must have been forgiven her, or she would not have shown such great love. It is the man 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 he even forgives sins?’ But he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’