From: Luke 7:36-50
The Woman Who was a Sinner
[41] “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii and the
other fifty. [42] When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now which of
them will love him more?” [43] Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, to whom
he forgave more.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” [44] Then tur-
ning 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 wet my feet with her
tears and wiped them with her hair. [45] You gave me no kiss, but from the time
I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. [46] You did not anoint my head
with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. [47] Therefore I tell you,
her sins, which are many, are forgiven little, for she loved much; but he who is
forgiven, loves little.” [48] And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” [49] Then
those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this,
who even forgives sins?” [50] And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved
you; go in peace.”
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Commentary:
36-40. This woman, moved no doubt by grace, was attracted by Christ’s prea-
ching and by what people were saying about him.
When dining, people reclined on low divans leaning on their left arm with their
legs tucked under them, away from the table. A host was expected to give his
guest a kiss of greeting and offer him water for his feet, and perfumes.
41-50. In this short parable of the two debtors Christ teaches us three things—his
own divinity and his power to forgive sins; the merit the woman’s love deserves;
and the discourtesy implied in Simeon’s neglecting to receive Jesus in the con-
ventional way. Our Lord was not interested in these social niceties as such but in
the affection which they expressed; that was why he felt hurt at Simeon’s neglect.
“Jesus notices the omission of the expression of human courtesy and refinement
which the Pharisee failed to show him. Christ is ‘perfectus Deus, perfectus homo’
(”Athanasian Creed”). He is perfect God, the second person of the Blessed Trinity,
and perfect man. He comes to save, not to destroy nature. It is from him that we
learn that it is unchristian to treat our fellow men badly, for they are creatures of
God, made in his image and likeness (Gen 1:26)” (St. J. Escriva, “Friends of
God”, 73).
Moreover, the Pharisee was wrong to think badly of this sinner and of Jesus: rec-
koning that Christ did not know anything about her, he complained inwardly. Our
Lord, who could read the secret thoughts of men (which showed his divinity), in-
tervened to point out to him his mistake. True righteousness, says St Gregory the
Great (cf. “In Evangelia Homiliae”, 33), is compassionate; whereas false righteous-
ness is indignant. There are many people like this Pharisee: forgetting that they
themselves were or are poor sinners, when they see other people’s sin they imme-
diately become indignant, instead of taking pity on them, or else they rush to judge
them or sneer at them. They forget what St Paul says: “Let any one who thinks
that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor 10:12); “Brethren, if any man is over-
taken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentle-
ness [...]. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 6:1-2).
We should strive to have charity govern all our judgments. Otherwise, we will easi-
ly be unjust towards others. “Let us be slow to judge. Each one see things from
his own point of view, as his mind, with all its limitations, tells him, and through
eyes that are often dimmed and clouded by passion.... Of what little worth are
the judgments of men! Don’t judge without sifting your judgment in prayer” (St. J.
Escriva, “The Way”, 451).
Charity and humility will allow us to see in the sins of others our own weak and
helpless position, and will help our hearts go out to the sorrow of every sinner
who repents, for we too would fall into sins as serious or more serious if God in
his mercy did not stay by our side.
“It was not the ointment that the Lord loved”, St Ambrose comments, “but the af-
fection; it was the woman’s faith that pleased him, her humility. And you also, if
you desire grace, increase your love; pour over the body of Jesus Christ your faith
in the Resurrection, the perfume of the holy Church and the ointment of charity
towards others” (”Expositio Evangelii sec. Lucam, in loc.”).
47. Man cannot merit forgiveness for his sins because, since God is the offended
party, they are of infinite gravity. We need the sacrament of Penance, in which
God forgives us by virtue of the infinite merits of Jesus Christ; there is only one
indispensable condition for winning God’s forgiveness—our love, our repentance.
We are pardoned to the extent that we love; when our heart is full of love there is
no longer any room in it for sin because we have made room for Jesus, and he
says to us as he said to this woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” Repentance is a
sign that we love God. But it was God who first loved us (cf.1 Jn 4:10). When God
forgives us he is expressing his love for us. Our love for God is, then, always a re-
sponse to his initiative. By forgiving us God helps us to be more grateful and more
loving towards him. “He loves little”, St Augustine comments, “who has little forgi-
ven. You say that you have not committed many sins: but why is that the case?
[...] The reason is that God was guiding you [...]. There is no sin that one man
commits, which another may not commit also unless God, man’s maker, guides
him” (”Sermon”, 99, 6). Therefore, we ought to fall ever more deeply in love with
our Lord, not only because he forgives us our sins but also because he helps us
by means of his grace not to commit them.
50. Jesus declares that it was faith that moved this woman to throw herself at
his feet and show her repentance; her repentance wins his forgiveness. Similarly,
when we approach the sacrament of Penance we should stir up our faith in the
fact that it is “not a human but a divine dialogue. It is a tribunal of divine justice
and especially of mercy, with a loving judge who ‘has no pleasure in the death
of the wicked; I desire that the wicked turn back from his way and live’ (Ezek
33:11)” (St. J. Escriva, “Christ Is Passing By”, 78).
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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
Liturgical Colour: Red.
| First reading |
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| 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 © |
| I preached what the others preach, and you all believed |
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| Responsorial Psalm |
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| Psalm 117(118):1-2,15-17,28 © |
| Gospel Acclamation | 2Co5:19 |
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| Or: | Mt11:28 |
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| Gospel | Luke 7:36-50 © |
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| Her many sins have been forgiven, or she would not have shown such great love |
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