The humility of reconciliation open us up to true forgiveness

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” In today’s gospel reading (Luke 7:36-50), Jesus teaches a very important lesson about forgiveness. A Jewish Rabbi or Pharisee invites Jesus to have dinner with him. When he arrives, a woman, who is described as a sinner or prostitute, greets him with special reverence. “Standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to 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.” The Pharisee was rather indignant at what he saw. He said to Jesus, “If this man was a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” Jesus responds to the Pharisee in a parable about to debtors who cannot repay their debt. One who owes 50 denari and the other owes 500. Both men were forgiven of their debt. Jesus asks him, “Now which of them will love him more?” The Pharisee replied, “The one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more.” In this story, we have a Rabbi who is thought to be a righteous man and a woman who is likely a prostitute. Both are sinners. The woman falls on her knees and praises Jesus’ mercy yet the Pharisee does not even greet him with a simple kiss.

It is obvious that the grace of God has filled the woman with repentant sorrow. She falls to his feet, she is crying with resentment for her sins and she anoints Jesus with precious perfumes. She disgusts the Pharisee who would not ever associate himself with such a woman. He also chastises Christ for allowing this woman to come near him. So who loves Jesus more, the rabbi or the prostitute? The rabbi did not even greet Jesus with the customary greeting yet the woman used precious oil which would have been extremely valuable to anoint Jesus. The real message her is that the woman, through her own humility, fell prostate at his feet and showed true love and compassion for Christ. Because of this demonstration, Jesus says, “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” We are all sinners. Are you willing to fall prostrate before him and ask for true forgiveness? Do you love him enough to spend the valuable perfume to anoint him? Do you shed tears over your sins? Do you open yourself to grace of God? We can take the position of the Pharisee and reject God’s love or we can take the position of the sinner and accept God’s love. When you take time to examine your conscience and evaluate your sins, you are at the feet of Christ. It is through the humility of reconciliation that we shed the tears that open us up to true forgiveness. It is through our faith, Christ’s grace and love that we are saved.

A Simple Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, I fall to your feet. A weep in sorrow because I am a sinner. Let me anoint you with my tears and my sorrows. I give these things up to you my Lord so I can be filled with your grace.

Yours in Christ Michael Marcon