Gospel: Luke 7:36-50
One of the Pharisees
asked Jesus to share his meal, so he went to the Pharisee’s home, and as usual reclined
at the table to eat. 37 And it happened that, a woman of this town, who was
known as a sinner, heard that he was in the Pharisee’s house. She brought an
alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and stood behind him, at his feet, weeping. She
wet his feet with tears; she dried them with her hair; she kissed his feet and
poured the perfume on them. 39 The Pharisee who had invited Jesus was watching,
and thought, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what sort of person is
touching him; isn’t this woman a sinner?” 40 Then Jesus spoke to the Pharisee and said, “Simon, I
have something to ask you.” He answered, “Speak, master.” And Jesus said, 41
“Two people were in debt to the same creditor. One owed him five hundred silver
coins, and the other fifty. 42 As they were unable to pay him back, he
graciously canceled the debts of both. Now, which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, who was forgiven more.” And Jesus said,
“You are right.” 44 And turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you
see this woman? 45 You gave me no water for my feet when I entered your house; but
she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You didn’t welcome
me with a kiss; but she has not stopped kissing my feet since she came in. 46
You provided no oil for my head; but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 This
is why, I tell you, her sins, her many
sins, are forgiven, because of her great love. But the one who is forgiven
little, has little love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are
forgiven.” 49 The others reclining with him
at the table began to wonder, “Now this man claims to forgive sins!” 50 But
Jesus again spoke to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace!”
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Reflection:
A sinner who was so
burdened by her many sins was contemplating of ending her life. When he was
about to take the drugs that would end it all. She suddenly remembered what he
read about the infinite love of Jesus. That Jesus loves her dearly no matter
who she is and no matter how grave the sins that she committed.
After that
enlightened episode in her life she decided to go to the Sacrament of
Confession so that she could be reconciled once again with Jesus and be cleaned
from all of her sinfulness.
Aside from Jesus
when have two very interesting characters in the gospel. One is a Pharisee
named Simon and the other one is an unidentified woman who was labeled as a
sinner. As usual Simon was the self-righteous Pharisee who thinks of himself as
a non-sinner thus he detested the woman who humbly went to Jesus begging for
forgiveness of her many sins. Did this woman know that Jesus would listen to
her plea for forgiveness? Did this woman know that Jesus would give a portion
of His precious time for her?
Yes this woman knew
that Jesus would listen to her appeal of forgiveness and yes this woman knew
that Jesus will give not only a portion of His precious time but even all of
His time so that He could listen to her.
Many of us do not
care to submit ourselves to the Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession because
we have the same mindset with Simon the Pharisee. We are self-righteous and we
are quick to judge our fellowmen’s sinfulness but not our own sinfulness.
But truth be told,
nobody is free from sin amongst us for we are all sinful. So what are we going
to do? We have to be like the woman who recognized her own sinfulness. The same
woman who went to Jesus with an alabaster jar of perfume to pour it on His
feet. And the same woman who was so filled with repentance thus she wept
unabashedly before Jesus.
Have you been to the
healing Sacrament of Confession lately? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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