Reflection for September 19 Thursday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 7:36-50

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.”

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Reflection:

Why is it that many of us are very quick to condemn those who are supposedly sinners? I for one is oftentimes like that I’m very quick at judging people but on second thought who are we to judge them? When we in fact are sinners too! We are quick to judge because we see them as bigtime sinners so we condemn or judge them. 

How about the private sins that we commit? Those sins that nobody else knows except us and God only. Most of the time those who are self-righteous are sinners too. They only refuse to admit that they are for they are blinded by the very high esteem that they give to themselves. 

Regardless if we are a public sinner of private sinner Jesus wants us to have a renewal in our lives. This we do by means of humbly approaching Him through the Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession. 

Most of the time repentant public sinners are the most effective bearers of Jesus love and forgiveness. Why? For the reason that they have nothing to hide anymore they humbly open themselves to God’s infinite grace, mercy and forgiveness. 

Are you a sinner who is very much willing to repent? -  Marino J. Dasmarinas