XI Sunday in OT[C]; 2 Sam12:7-10,13;Gal2:15-16,19-20;Lk 7:36-8:3

XI Sunday in OT[C]; 2 Sam12:7-10,13;Gal2:15-16,19-20;Lk 7:36-8:3

Introduction: "There are two types of people in the world. The first are those who bounce into a room and shout, 'Rejoice, I am here.' The second are those who come into the same room and exclaim, 'Ah, there you are." So has a pundit written correctly about us. Simon the Pharisee is the former. The woman sinner is the latter.

Exegesis:  Jesus was one of the guests at a feast thrown by the Pharisee, Simon.  I would like to think that Jesus was not the only guest, and perhaps was even least of the guests.  If he were the only guest, he would have been better cared for by his host – with washing of the feet, anointing of the head and with a kiss of welcome! And I suppose, the guests were reclining on cushion with their feet outstretched while sharing food in smaller groups from the common plate (sinia). A woman comes in.  She has a bad reputation.  It is her presence that forces the attention of Simon on Jesus. The rituals that she performs on the feet of Jesus are perhaps part of her profession! But surely when done in public, that too in the house of a Pharisee, and to the feet of a rabbi, it is simply scandalizing!  She washes the unwashed feet of Jesus with her tears; she massages his feet with oil; she ‘tickles’ his feet with her long oriental hair.  For the woman, perhaps these were signs of surrender and renunciation.  How women love their hair! (No wonder, when St Claire wanted to follow the simplicity of St Francis of Assisi, she would cut her hair!)  But in the culture in which Jesus was born, for a woman to let her hair loose in front of strangers did not speak well of that woman, as it is even in my own culture up to this day.  And Jesus lets her do it. God allows us to be ourselves in his presence. This is simply scandalizing.  Therefore, Simon has to call for order. He cannot let his home become defiled by an unholy ritual and the contact with an unholy woman.

Jesus wants to give a piece of his mind to Simon: for being impolite to Jesus – this controversial Rabbi – by not welcoming him properly, for being insensitive to a fellow human person – this sinner woman – who is turning to God, and for not being open to the presence of God – in Jesus. Jesus wants to be very polite to Simon, compassionate to the woman, and truthful as the Son of God.  He tells Simon a parable: about two people who had huge debts – one, fifty days’ wage, and the other, five hundred days’ wage.  Both are forgiven.  But one loved much, hence enjoys salvation.

Reflections:  In scriptural understanding, a prophet is one who warns people and calls them for conversion, like what Prophet Nathan does to David in the first reading of today. So Simon’s assumption is that Jesus being a prophet, as Simon perceives Jesus to be, should warn this woman and call her for conversion.  But the reality is, Jesus is not a prophet. He is the Son of God.  He does not condemn, nor does he condone; he does acknowledge that “her sins are many” (Lk 7:47); but he forgives. He forgives because the woman has loved much. Actually one who needs the invitation to conversion is Simon.  That is why Jesus speaks up to Simon.  Simon has strong sense of justice, like King David in the first reading of today, but that does not make him justified (saved) in the eyes of God.  Therefore Simon stands in need of the experience of the love of God. And that is Jesus’ invitation to Simon.

The woman has experienced the love of God in Jesus.  She stands in need of forgiveness. Jesus utters two sentences to this woman.  “Your sins are forgiven” (Lk 7:48). “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Lk 7:50). First is an experience of being forgiven. And the second, the experience of salvation.  The first sentence is an experience of what Spiritual writers have called, ‘the Purgative stage’ in the experience of God.  The second sentence could be an experience of what Spiritual writers have called, ‘the Unitive stage’. In between the two is the illuminative stage where there is a better understanding of the nature of God and the spiritual journey itself. The sinner woman goes home, renewed with a new lease of life, having experienced God.   

Joke:  A woman bought a parrot for a pet. All the parrot did was treat her bad. It insulted her and every time she tried to pick it up, it would peck at her arm.  One day she got fed up with the parrot and as it was insulting her she picked it up, it continued with the insults. "You’re ugly! I can't stand you!" and it pecked at her arm as she carried it. She opened the freezer door and threw him in and closed the door. From inside, the parrot was still going on for about 5 seconds and then it was suddenly quiet.  She thought, "Oh no, I killed it!" She opens the door and the parrot just looked at her. She picked it up. Then the parrot said:  "I'm very sorry. I apologize for my bad behavior and promise you there will be no more of that. From now on, I will be a respectful, obedient parrot."

"Well OK" she said. "Apology accepted". The parrot said "Thank you". Then he said,

"Can I ask you something?" She said, "Yes, What?"

And the parrot looked at the freezer and asked, "What did the Chicken do?"

Parallels in Bible:  I could not but see parallels between this passage (Lk 7:36-50), and what Jesus is going to tell us in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32). The woman is like the younger son who has come home, she has experienced forgiveness and salvation. Whereas, Simon the Pharisee is, like the elder son still at the threshold of the home.  And Jesus is between these two people (cf. Lk 15:1-3; 28) lovingly inviting them both to join the celebration of life – salvation.  Also see the parallels between the story in today’s gospel (Lk 7:36-50), and what Jesus is going to tell us in the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican who went to the temple to pray (Lk 18:11-32).  The woman is like the Publican, she goes home justified; and the Pharisee remains untouched even by the presence of Jesus in his home. 

Conclusion:  Today’s gospel then invites us to surrender ourselves at the feet of Jesus in an act of humility and repentance.  It invites us to open ourselves to be loved by God.  It invites us to be saved by the loving presence of God.

Introduction:  XI Sunday in Ordinary Time

Message: David acknowledges his sin and experiences the Lord’s forgiveness.  The sinful woman is forgiven by Jesus because of her great love.  He loves us and gave himself up for us.

Saints and Events in this week:  Today is Fathers day; 19-Wednesday-Saint Romuald, abbot; 21-Friday-Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, religious; 22-Saturday-Saint Paulinus of Nola, bishop; Saints John Fisher; bishop, and Thomas More, martyrs;