Luke 7:36–50
One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat
with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the
table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was
eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood
behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and
to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing
them with the ointment. 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
kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.” Jesus spoke up
and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he
replied, “speak.” “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred
denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debts
for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I
suppose the one for whom he cancelled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him,
“You have judged rightly.” Then turning towards 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 bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me
no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You
did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.
Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she
has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”
Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” But those who were at the table
with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Reflection
• Do
feel the need of God’s forgiveness?
• How
God’s expansive forgiveness constantly responds to the darkness of my soul?