Thursday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 446
Lectionary: 446
Beloved:
Let no one have contempt for your youth,
but set an example for those who believe,
in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.
Until I arrive, attend to the reading, exhortation, and teaching.
Do not neglect the gift you have,
which was conferred on you through the prophetic word
with the imposition of hands by the presbyterate.
Be diligent in these matters, be absorbed in them,
so that your progress may be evident to everyone.
Attend to yourself and to your teaching;
persevere in both tasks,
for by doing so you will save
both yourself and those who listen to you.
Let no one have contempt for your youth,
but set an example for those who believe,
in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.
Until I arrive, attend to the reading, exhortation, and teaching.
Do not neglect the gift you have,
which was conferred on you through the prophetic word
with the imposition of hands by the presbyterate.
Be diligent in these matters, be absorbed in them,
so that your progress may be evident to everyone.
Attend to yourself and to your teaching;
persevere in both tasks,
for by doing so you will save
both yourself and those who listen to you.
Responsorial PsalmPS 111:7-8, 9, 10
R. (2) How great are the works of the Lord!
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
sure are all his precepts,
Reliable forever and ever,
wrought in truth and equity.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
He has sent deliverance to his people;
he has ratified his covenant forever;
holy and awesome is his name.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
prudent are all who live by it.
His praise endures forever.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
sure are all his precepts,
Reliable forever and ever,
wrought in truth and equity.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
He has sent deliverance to his people;
he has ratified his covenant forever;
holy and awesome is his name.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
prudent are all who live by it.
His praise endures forever.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
GospelLK 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.”
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.”
Meditation: "Which will love him
more?"
What
fuels extravagant love? Unbounding gratitude for sure! No one who met Jesus
could do so with indifference. They were either attracted to him or repeled by
him. Why did a rabbi invite Jesus to a nice dinner and then treat him
discourteously by neglecting to give him the customary signs of respect and
honor? Simon was very likely a collector of celebrities. He patronized Jesus
because of his popularity with the crowds. Why did he criticize Jesus'
compassionate treatment of a woman of ill repute – most likely a prostitute?
The Pharisees shunned the company of public sinners and in so doing they
neglected to give them the help they needed to find healing and wholeness.
Why did a
woman with a bad reputation approach Jesus and anoint him at the risk of
ridicule and abuse by others? The woman's action was motivated by one thing,
and one thing only, namely, her love for Jesus and her gratitude for
forgiveness. She did something, however, a Jewish woman would never do in
public. She loosed her hair and anointed Jesus with her tears. It was customary
for a woman on her wedding day to bound her hair. For a married woman to loosen
her hair in public was a sign of grave immodesty. This woman was
oblivious to all around her, except for Jesus. She also did something which
only love can do. She took the most precious thing she had and spent it all on
Jesus. Her love was not calculated but extravagant. In a spirit of humility and
heart-felt repentance, she lavishly served the one who showed her the mercy and
kindness of God. Jesus, in his customary fashion, never lost the opportunity to
draw a lesson from such an incident.
Why did
Jesus put the parable of the two debtors before his learned host, a rabbi and
teacher of the people? This parable is similar to the parable of the unforgiving
official (see Matthew 18:23-35) in which the man who was
forgiven much showed himself merciless and unforgiving. Jesus makes clear that
great love springs from a heart forgiven and cleansed. "Love covers a
multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8), "for love is of God" (1 John
4:7). The woman's lavish expression of love was proof that she had found favor
with God. The stark contrast of attitudes between Simon and the woman of
ill-repute, demonstrate how we can either accept or reject God's mercy. Simon,
who regarded himself as an upright Pharisee, felt no need for love or mercy.
His self-sufficiency kept him for acknowledging his need for God's grace.
Are you grateful for God's mercy and grace?
"Lord
Jesus, your grace is sufficient for me. Fill my heart with love and gratitude
for the mercy you have shown to me and give me joy and freedom to love and
serve others with kindness and respect."
 The Healing Power of Love |
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Thursday of the
Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
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Father Robert Presutti
Luke 7:36-50
A Pharisee invited him 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."
Introductory Prayer: Holy Trinity, I cannot see you, but you are with me. I cannot
touch you, but I am in your hands. I cannot fully comprehend you, but I love
you with all my heart.
Petition: Lord Jesus, help me to be humble and open to
interior growth.
1. Ostensible Openness and Spiritual Pride: Simon the Pharisee has an apparent
openness to the Lord. He invites him to dine. He observes him. And he engages
him in cordial dialogue. Nonetheless, we see that Simon interiorly judges the
Lord, dismisses him as a farce, and ultimately rejects him. The Pharisaical
attitude consists essentially in trying to force God into our own
preconceived notions of how he should operate. The Pharisees had the correct
view of moral precepts (both Simon and Jesus agree that this woman is a
sinner). But they fail in recognizing their own sins, which are rooted in
pride. This pride manifested itself in that unspoken attitude that God must
adjust himself to our way of being and acting.
2. Redemption: The Pharisee thinks he is sinless and
does not admit that he needs a savior. His prideful attitude of “assessing”
the Lord proceeds from a deeper pride that blinds him to who he really is
before God: a simple creature in need of divine help and grace. Simon wants
God to conform to his preconceptions, and winds up rejecting Christ. This is
the paradigm of pride. It distorts reality and forges its own self-centered
world that Christ cannot penetrate. The woman knows she is a sinner and
recognizes the path to her salvation in the words and example of Jesus. She
painfully realizes who she is and keenly longs for salvation. The words and
example of mercy of Christ resonate deeply in her heart and invite her to
repentance. This is the paradigm of humility. Its strength lies in a
knowledge and serene acceptance of the truth and makes redemption possible.
3. Christ’s Goodness: Our Lord’s
loving treatment of both the woman and Simon displays a remarkable balance of
kindness. He carefully avoids the opposite extremes of condemnation and
indifference to others’ sins. The reason Our Lord is able to offer hope and
consolation to the repentant sinner as well as to invite the proud with a
gentle call to repentance is that Christ will die for both. In this we see
Christ’s goodness. He comes to save us all, but we must choose to accept his
goodness.
Conversation with Christ: Jesus, help me to realize who I am and who
you are. Teach me gratitude for your goodness and hope in your mercy. Help me
to recognize my pride and strive to overcome it so that you can fill my life
with your goodness.
Resolution: I will avoid judging others today.
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
LUKE 7:36-50
(1 Timothy 4:12-16; Psalm 111)
LUKE 7:36-50
(1 Timothy 4:12-16; Psalm 111)
KEY VERSE: "Her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love" (v 47).
READING: As Jesus reclined at table in the home of a Pharisee (Simon the Leper in Mk 14:3-9), a woman entered the room and anointed him with oil. She was weeping in gratitude for the forgiveness she had received. The Pharisee was critical of Jesus for allowing this woman, a known sinner, to touch him. Jesus told his host a story of a money lender who forgave the debts of two people. The one who was most in debt was more grateful to his creditor than the one who owed less. Jesus reminded his self-righteous host that he had not provided the normal courtesies due a guest: giving a kiss of peace and bathing his feet. By contrast, the woman graciouslykissed Jesus' feet and poured out her love by anointing him. Because her many sins had been pardoned, she was able to be generous in return. Her act was symbolic of Jesus' role as God's "anointed one" (Greek,Christos, Hebrew, Mashiach). Her action can also be viewed as preparation for Jesus' death and burial.
REFLECTING: What acts of kindness is the Lord asking me to do today?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to be grateful for the mercy you have shown to me.
Optional Memorial of Januarius, bishop and martyr
Januarius was a Fourth century bishop of Benevento, Italy during Diocletian's persecution. He was arrested while visiting imprisoned deacons, and later martyred with his companions c.304 at Naples or Pozzuoli (sources vary). Januarius was first thrown to wild beasts, and when the animals would not attack him, he was beheaded. Januarius' body was brought to Naples, and there interred in the church. His blood waskept in a phial of glass, which was set near his head. Since at least 1389, it is said that the blood liquefies on his feast day.
Our Lady of La Salette
On September 19, 1846, Mary appeared to two young cattle herders, Melanie Mathieu and Maximin Giraud, on the mountain of La Salette in the French Alps. Speaking tearfully, she told the children that people must repent of their sins or endure coming chastisements. She promised Divine Mercy if they amended their lives. The distinctive La Salette Cross with the hammer and pincers is the unique sign of the Missionaries of La Salette. Worn by Mary at her apparition, it symbolizes the La Salette's work of reconciliation, helping people turn from sin and letting the world know of God's peace and compassion. Mary's call for reconciliation with God inspires us to be reconcilers ourselves: to heal hurts and deepen awareness of God's call to repentance.
Beatification of John Henry Newman
The Vatican has approved the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman, the English convert and theologian who has had immense influence upon English-speaking Catholicism. John Henry Newman was born in 1801. As an Anglican priest, he led the Oxford Movement that sought to return the Church of England to its Catholic roots. His conversion to Catholicism in 1845 rocked Victorian England. After becoming an Oratorian priest, he was involved in the establishment of the Birmingham Oratory. He died in 1890 and is buried at the oratory country house Rednall Hill. At his beatification ceremony by Pope Benedict XVI on September 19 in Birmingham, England, John Henry Newman will receive the title �Blessed.� He will need one more recognized miracle to be canonized.
How great are the works of the
Lord!
Simon the Pharisee and an unnamed woman respond so differently to the presence of Jesus who points this out to Simon and the dinner guests. The woman, publically known as a sinner, sensing and anticipating a special moment, welcomes Jesus and Simon does not.
In return, the woman receives an outpouring of love. She had sensed acceptance and forgiveness and hence her love follows. Jesus’ words, given with a voice of authority, offer forgiveness, and he tells her to go in peace. She is transformed by the experience. Simon is not judged, but the contrast is there for all, including us, to contemplate. We know from human experience that love always follows forgiveness.
September 19
St. Januarius
(d. 305?)
St. Januarius
(d. 305?)
Little is known about the life of Januarius. He
is believed to have been martyred in the Emperor Diocletian's persecution of
305. Legend has it that after Januarius was thrown to the bears in the
amphitheater of Pozzuoli, he was beheaded, and his blood ultimately brought to
Naples.
Comment:
It is defined Catholic doctrine that miracles can happen and can be recognized—hardly a mind-boggling statement to anyone who believes in God. Problems arise, however, when we must decide whether an occurrence is unexplainable in natural terms, or only unexplained. We do well to avoid an excessive credulity, which may be a sign of insecurity. On the other hand, when even scientists speak about "probabilities" rather than "laws" of nature, it is something less than imaginative for Christians to think that God is too "scientific" to work extraordinary miracles to wake us up to the everyday miracles of sparrows and dandelions, raindrops and snowflakes.
It is defined Catholic doctrine that miracles can happen and can be recognized—hardly a mind-boggling statement to anyone who believes in God. Problems arise, however, when we must decide whether an occurrence is unexplainable in natural terms, or only unexplained. We do well to avoid an excessive credulity, which may be a sign of insecurity. On the other hand, when even scientists speak about "probabilities" rather than "laws" of nature, it is something less than imaginative for Christians to think that God is too "scientific" to work extraordinary miracles to wake us up to the everyday miracles of sparrows and dandelions, raindrops and snowflakes.
Quote:
“A dark mass that half fills a hermetically sealed four-inch glass container, and is preserved in a double reliquary in the Naples cathedral as the blood of St. January, liquefies 18 times during the year.... This phenomenon goes back to the 14th century.... Tradition connects it with a certain Eusebia, who had allegedly collected the blood after the martyrdom.... The ceremony accompanying the liquefaction is performed by holding the reliquary close to the altar on which is located what is believed to be the martyr's head. While the people pray, often tumultuously, the priest turns the reliquary up and down in the full sight of the onlookers until the liquefaction takes place.... Various experiments have been applied, but the phenomenon eludes natural explanation. There are, however, similar miraculous claims made for the blood of John the Baptist, Stephen, Pantaleon, Patricia, Nicholas of Tolentino and Aloysius Gonzaga—nearly all in the neighborhood of Naples” (Catholic Encyclopedia).
“A dark mass that half fills a hermetically sealed four-inch glass container, and is preserved in a double reliquary in the Naples cathedral as the blood of St. January, liquefies 18 times during the year.... This phenomenon goes back to the 14th century.... Tradition connects it with a certain Eusebia, who had allegedly collected the blood after the martyrdom.... The ceremony accompanying the liquefaction is performed by holding the reliquary close to the altar on which is located what is believed to be the martyr's head. While the people pray, often tumultuously, the priest turns the reliquary up and down in the full sight of the onlookers until the liquefaction takes place.... Various experiments have been applied, but the phenomenon eludes natural explanation. There are, however, similar miraculous claims made for the blood of John the Baptist, Stephen, Pantaleon, Patricia, Nicholas of Tolentino and Aloysius Gonzaga—nearly all in the neighborhood of Naples” (Catholic Encyclopedia).
LECTIO: LUKE
7,36-50
Lectio:
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Ordinary Time
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1) Opening prayer
Almighty God,
our creator and guide,
may we serve you with all our hearts
and know your forgiveness in our lives.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
our creator and guide,
may we serve you with all our hearts
and know your forgiveness in our lives.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Luke 7,36-50
One of the Pharisees invited Jesus 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.’
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.’
3) Reflection
• Today’s Gospel presents the episode of the woman with the
perfume who was accepted by Jesus during a feast in house of Simon the
Pharisee. One of the aspects of the novelty of the Good News of Jesus is the
surprising attitude of Jesus toward women. At the time of the New Testament
women lived marginalized. In the Synagogue they could not participate in the
public life and they could not be witnesses. Many women, though, resisted this
exclusion. From the time of Ezra, the marginalization of women had been
increasing on the part of the religious authority (Ezr 9, 1 to 10, 44), and the
resistance of women against their exclusion, also increased, as we can see in
the stories of Judith, Esther, Ruth, Noemi, Suzanne, and the Sulamite and
others. This resistance found echo and acceptance in Jesus. In the episode of
the woman with the perfume there is inconformity which springs up and the
resistance of the women in the life of every day and the acceptance of Jesus.
• Luke 7, 36-38: The situation which breaks out the debate. Three completely different persons meet with one another: Jesus, Simon, the Pharisee, a practicing Jew, and the woman, whom they said that she was a sinner. Jesus is in the house of Simon who has invited him to dinner with him. The woman enters, and she places herself at the feet of Jesus, and begins to cry bathing Jesus’ feet with her tears, and dries them with her loose hair. She kisses his feet and anoints them with perfume. To get the hair loose in public was a gesture of independence. Jesus does not draw back, nor does he send the woman away, rather he accepts her gesture.
• Luke 7, 39-40: The reaction of the Pharisee and the response of Jesus. Jesus was accepting a person, who, according to the custom of the time, could not be accepted, because she was a sinner. The Pharisee, observing everything, criticizes Jesus and condemns the woman: “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”. Jesus uses a parable to respond to the provocation of the Pharisee.
• Luke 7, 41-43: The parable of the two debtors. One owed 500 denarii, the other 50. Neither one was able to pay, both of them were forgiven. Which of them will love their master more? Response of the Pharisee: “The one who was let off more, I suppose!” The parable presupposes that both, the Pharisee and the woman, had received some favour from Jesus. In the attitude that both take before Jesus they indicate how much they appreciate the favour received. The Pharisee shows his love, his gratitude, by inviting Jesus to eat with him. The woman shows her love, her gratitude, by her tears, the kisses and the perfume.
• Luke 7, 44-47: The message of Jesus for the Pharisee. After having received the response of the Pharisee, Jesus applies the parable. Even if he was in the house of the Pharisee, invited by him, Jesus does not lose the freedom to speak and to act. He defends the woman against the criticism of the practicing Jew. The message of Jesus for the Pharisees of all times is this one: “The one who is forgiven little, loves little!” A Pharisee thinks that he is not a sinner because he observes the law in everything. The personal assurance that I, a Pharisee, create for myself many times, in the observance of the Law of God and of the Church, prevents me from experiencing the gratuity of the love of God. What is important is not the observance of the law in itself, but the love with which I observe the law. And using the symbols of the love of the woman, Jesus responds to the Pharisee who considered himself to be in peace with God: “you poured no water over my feet; you gave me no kiss, you did not anoint my head with perfumed oil! Simon, in spite of the banquet that you have offered me, you have loved very little!”
• Luke 7, 48-50: The word of Jesus to the woman. Jesus declares that the woman is forgiven and then adds: “Your faith has saved you, go in peace!” Here we have the novelty of the attitude of Jesus. He does not condemn but he accepts. It is faith which helps the woman to encounter herself and to encounter God. In the relationship with Jesus, a new force springs up in her and makes her be born again.
• Luke 7, 36-38: The situation which breaks out the debate. Three completely different persons meet with one another: Jesus, Simon, the Pharisee, a practicing Jew, and the woman, whom they said that she was a sinner. Jesus is in the house of Simon who has invited him to dinner with him. The woman enters, and she places herself at the feet of Jesus, and begins to cry bathing Jesus’ feet with her tears, and dries them with her loose hair. She kisses his feet and anoints them with perfume. To get the hair loose in public was a gesture of independence. Jesus does not draw back, nor does he send the woman away, rather he accepts her gesture.
• Luke 7, 39-40: The reaction of the Pharisee and the response of Jesus. Jesus was accepting a person, who, according to the custom of the time, could not be accepted, because she was a sinner. The Pharisee, observing everything, criticizes Jesus and condemns the woman: “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”. Jesus uses a parable to respond to the provocation of the Pharisee.
• Luke 7, 41-43: The parable of the two debtors. One owed 500 denarii, the other 50. Neither one was able to pay, both of them were forgiven. Which of them will love their master more? Response of the Pharisee: “The one who was let off more, I suppose!” The parable presupposes that both, the Pharisee and the woman, had received some favour from Jesus. In the attitude that both take before Jesus they indicate how much they appreciate the favour received. The Pharisee shows his love, his gratitude, by inviting Jesus to eat with him. The woman shows her love, her gratitude, by her tears, the kisses and the perfume.
• Luke 7, 44-47: The message of Jesus for the Pharisee. After having received the response of the Pharisee, Jesus applies the parable. Even if he was in the house of the Pharisee, invited by him, Jesus does not lose the freedom to speak and to act. He defends the woman against the criticism of the practicing Jew. The message of Jesus for the Pharisees of all times is this one: “The one who is forgiven little, loves little!” A Pharisee thinks that he is not a sinner because he observes the law in everything. The personal assurance that I, a Pharisee, create for myself many times, in the observance of the Law of God and of the Church, prevents me from experiencing the gratuity of the love of God. What is important is not the observance of the law in itself, but the love with which I observe the law. And using the symbols of the love of the woman, Jesus responds to the Pharisee who considered himself to be in peace with God: “you poured no water over my feet; you gave me no kiss, you did not anoint my head with perfumed oil! Simon, in spite of the banquet that you have offered me, you have loved very little!”
• Luke 7, 48-50: The word of Jesus to the woman. Jesus declares that the woman is forgiven and then adds: “Your faith has saved you, go in peace!” Here we have the novelty of the attitude of Jesus. He does not condemn but he accepts. It is faith which helps the woman to encounter herself and to encounter God. In the relationship with Jesus, a new force springs up in her and makes her be born again.
4) Personal questions
• Where, when and how are women despised or rejected by the
Pharisee of today?
• The woman certainly would not have done what she did if she was not absolutely certain that Jesus would accept her. Do the marginalized and migrant persons have the same certainty today?
• The woman certainly would not have done what she did if she was not absolutely certain that Jesus would accept her. Do the marginalized and migrant persons have the same certainty today?
5) Concluding Prayer
For Yahweh is good,
his faithful love is everlasting,
his constancy from age to age. (Ps 100,5)
his faithful love is everlasting,
his constancy from age to age. (Ps 100,5)
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