September 20, 2018 (Thursday of week 24 Year II: St Andrew Kim Taegon & Comp)
Forgiven, for she loved
Dear friends in Christ, there are times when people fail to see the other persons sense of true sorrow. There are times when the efforts others are making at changing their ways look superficial or a pretence. True sorrow for sin and works of love to remedy what has been damaged in the relationship is more important than anything else.
In today’s first reading (1Corinthians 15:1-11) Paul gives a summary of his preaching in just a few words “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve…” The death and resurrection of Jesus is the focus of this message and that must always be at the centre of our message and lives. When Paul talks of the appearance of Jesus to himself, he declared his unworthiness and sees everything he has done as not by his own effort but the grace of God in him. “For I am the least of the Apostles, unfit to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain.”
In today’s gospel (Luke 7:36-50) we have the encounter of a miserable sinner who came to appreciate the forgiveness of God by showing it forth as love. A woman who was a known sinner in town made her way into the Pharisee’s house when she knew Jesus was there. All she did, “standing behind at his feet, 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.” Some of those who were there had wild thoughts, “If he were a prophet he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him…” How unfortunate the thoughts of many. But Jesus addressed Simon his host, a Pharisee who had invited him to dinner and most likely watching him to see what charges to bring against him, and who had likely deliberately allowed the woman in to trap Jesus, “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. You gave me no kiss…you did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much…” The Pharisee deliberately avoided giving Jesus the necessary welcome of a visitor; for him, he sees nothing more than a man to be trapped. But in his house is an acclaimed sinner who turns everything around, wept for her sins and for that received justification. Do not busy yourself judging others. How right are you with God?
Let us pray: Lord, you forgave her many sins for she loved. Help me to love just as you have loved me. Amen. May the Almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen!