GOSPEL POWER l SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 l THURSDAY

24th Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Lk 7:36-50

36One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into  the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. 37And a woman  in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the  Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38She stood  behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her  tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his  feet and anointing them with the ointment. 39Now when the Pharisee  who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a  prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this  is who is touching him — that she is a sinner.” 40Jesus spoke up and  said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he  replied, “speak.” 41“A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five  hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42When they could not pay, he  canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love  him more?” 43Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he  canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged  rightly.” 44Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do  you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for  my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them  with her hair. 45You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she  has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not anoint my head with  oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47Therefore, I tell  you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has  shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”  48Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49But those who were  at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this  who even forgives sins?” 50And he said to the woman, “Your faith has  saved you; go in peace.” 

The parable Jesus tells Simon the Pharisee does not  merely explain the sinful woman’s extravagant gesture  of affection. Since it speaks of two debtors, its more subtle  implication is that Simon too has been forgiven. What was his offense?  In his heart, Simon judged both Jesus and the woman, and he has  been negligent in his duty as host, omitting, perhaps deliberately, the  customary gesture of hospitality that he owes his guest. Simon is the  debtor who has been forgiven little, but forgiven just the same. He  too has encountered God’s face of mercy in the person of Jesus. If  that awareness has dawned on Simon, then he would not miss the  invitation to love more as a gesture of gratitude. And in the context  of this episode, loving more could begin with ceasing to judge others.

Lord Jesus, when we are tempted to judge and label others, summon us  into our hearts to discover our common state of misery as sinners. Amen.