Eleventh Sunday in Orindary Time (C)

He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Lk 7:36-50

Exegesis

Now there was a sinful woman in the city.
The woman is not named. Some translations say that the woman was of ill-repute. It is commonly assumed that she was a prostitute. Furthermore, this woman has wrongly been identified as Mary Magdalene because the gospel say that Jesus cast out 7 demons from her. But this probably meant that Jesus cured her of a grave sickness. Take note that it was commonly believed that evil spirits caused sickness.

Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment
The alabaster flask is an expensive container. We assume that the ointment or perfume it contains is expensive, too. This implies that the sinful woman held Je-sus in high regard. You don’t give cheap things to people you consider important.

She stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears.
Did the sinful woman weep for sorrow or for joy? Probably both. Don Bosco wrote in the biography of Mickey Magone that on his first confession, Mickey cried because he realized how many sins he had committed. But at the end of his confession, he cried again. But this time it was because his heart could not contain the joy and peace he felt.

Then she wiped them with her hair
In her culture to let her hair loose was immodest.

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.”
She knew that she had a bad reputation in that town. But she didn't give a damn about what people will say.

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…
It was the custom that servants wash the feet of guests and that the host greet them with a kiss. And if they were special guests and the host was wealthy enough, the guests were anointed with perfume. All this Simon did not give to Jesus. Unlike the sinful woman, Simon did not hold Jesus in high regard.

A Problem

Was the sinful woman forgiven because she showed great love? Or did she show great love because she was forgiven?

The parable holds the key. The one who had a bigger debt loved the creditor more. In the same way the woman who was aware of her great sinfulness was for-given and because of that showed a corresponding great gratitude.

Jesus and Simon

Simon was a Pharisee and therefore, was a strict observer of the Law. He was right in disapproving her way of life. But his attitude was worthy of reproach. He loathed the woman like a leper.

Jesus did not take sin lightly. Remember the woman caught in adultery? Jesus told her: “From now on sin no more.” But Jesus was compassionate in contrast to Simon. Why? Jesus himself said that the Son came not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through him.

Story

PDI has a regular column entitled, “Young Blood”. One contributor wrote that her boyfriend got her pregnant. She was very confused. She didn’t know what to do. Her boyfriend kept urging her to get an abortion because he was not in a position to marry her. She finally agreed to have an abortion.

But her conscience wouldn’t leave her alone. It bothered her. She couldn’t even enter a church because she felt too dirty to enter into the presence of God.

One day she could stand it no longer. She went to church to confess. She was afraid the priest would scold her. Instead, she was received with kindness. The priest made her feel that God had forgiven her. She had been crying all the time. But this time she was crying for joy. God had forgiven her.

Conclusion

Is there something bothering you? Is your conscience carrying a heavy bur-den? Are you in search of peace? The sinful woman found peace in the forgive-ness of Jesus. You, too, can find peace in the forgiveness of Jesus.

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The Salesians of Don Bosco is a religious congregation of priests and brothers dedicated to he welfare of the young. If you feel called by God to give your life for the good of the young, you may want help in discovering if this is really God's will for you. Please get in touch with the Vocation Director (Don Bosco North Province, Philippines) - 0917-7930112 - Bro. MON CALLO SDB.