A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke 7:36-50
(Glory to you, O Lord!)
A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him,
and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.
Now there was a sinful woman in the city
who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee.
Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment,
she stood behind him at his feet weeping
and began to bathe his feet with her tears.
Then she wiped them with her hair,
kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.
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.”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“Simon, I have something to say to you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
“Two people were in debt to a certain creditor;
one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty.
Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both.
Which of them will love him more?”
Simon said in reply,
“The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.”
He said to him, “You have judged rightly.”
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,
but she has bathed them with her tears
and wiped them with her hair.
You did not give me a kiss,
but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.
You did not anoint my head with oil,
but she anointed my feet with ointment.
So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven;
hence, she has shown great love.
But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”
He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
The others at table said to themselves,
“Who is this who even forgives sins?”
But he said to the woman,
“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
The Gospel of the Lord (Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ!).
Reflection: We are God’s beloved
Today we hear about a woman who the Pharisees have judged as a sinful person, a person that they will choose to avoid to associate with. But Jesus knows what we have all been through, what we are thinking and what each of us have done, what is our potential, and Jesus knows the intentions of our hearts as he chooses to forgive the sinful woman… who has tearfully humbled herself before him. Jesus saw her willingness to change and He knew her heart and mind, as she washes His feet with her tears and anoints Him with the ointment. Jesus forgives her of her sins.
As human being, it is so easy for us to judge people, our surroundings, what we see and hear. We are so quick to make a comment, to immediately choose to be negative rather than to be contemplative. To be cynical rather than hopeful. To write off what we see or hear as bad or judge something as good based merely on appearances and our own standards of perception. But that is not the heart and mind of God. We have a God of love and great mercy who sees our full potential.
This reminds me of the presentation of Susan Boyle in 2008, which was aired to the world in 2009 on Britain’s got Talent. When her turn came up, Susan strutted on to the stage with a cheeky grin, shared her dream to be become a professional singer at 47 years of age, and to be as popular as Elaine Paige a well known singer, causing the the judges and the audience to be cynical with their reactions with chuckles of laughter.
Then Susan sang… and what a surprise was awaiting them. She sang a very beautiful rendition of “I dreamed a dream” from Les Miserables to the amazement and cheers of the audience and the judges. Their frowns were turned to joy. They were given the biggest wake up call ever as the audience and most of the judges gave her a standing ovation, and they also gave her their highest compliments ever given to a contestant.
We are all God’s beloved. God sees our potential. Our potential for goodness, kindness, compassion and mercy, including all our gifts. God knows the intentions of our hearts, and He is always ready to grant us his grace of mercy, to love and forgive us, to grant us the grace of peace and to work through all our gifts. So the next time we are ready to judge too easily, to give a negative comment, or write someone off, may we remember to take a step back, to think contemplatively, and realize that we and every person that we meet are all cherished by our creator, as we are dearly loved … as we are God’s beloved.
Action for the Day:
In silent prayer, ask our Lord Jesus to increase our faith, to help us to be contemplative in our thoughts, to help us to see the beauty and goodness in each person and in all creation, to remove the negative distractions in life. Lord Jesus, help us to see you in all creation and in every person that we meet. Grant us the grace of your presence and the joy of your peace.
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