Today's Gospel tells us a
story about Jesus' interaction with two individuals in a narrative that really
engages our imagination. First we have
Simon the Pharisee, who magnifies the faults of others. That is such an easy way to go through life:
looking at our family, our friends, our co-workers, seeing their faults,
pointing them out, feeling superior to them. Simon had an arrogance of heart,
finding the faults in this woman who comes to Jesus, and minimizing his
own.
Then we have the woman in
the Gospel, who recognizes her own sinfulness. It is as if she is saying, as she bathes his feet with her tears, “Lord,
I have these problems in my life, I have this sinfulness. Would you find it in your heart to forgive
me? Would you help me to change?” She has a worshipful appreciation of Jesus as
he forgives her and heals her. God wants
all of us to have this same worshipful appreciation for Jesus as he reaches out
to us in his teaching and in his proclamation of God's kingdom, as we receive
forgiveness from Jesus, as we receive inner healing from our relationship with
him. Jesus responds to Simon’s retort
against this woman as her sins have been forgiven her and she is showing great
love. God wants us to recognize that
there is a connection to the forgiveness of our sins and to the compassion and
love that we give in response – that is what God is calling us to do.
May God fill our hearts
with compassion, with love for God and for our brothers and sisters. May we reach out to others in proclamation of
the peace, justice, and love of neighbor that is an integral part of the
kingdom of God.
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