Your faith has saved you. Go in peace

 

 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him.  And He went to the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat.  And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.  Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, "This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner."  And Jesus answered and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you."  So he said, "Teacher, say it."  "There was a certain creditor who had two debtors.  One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both.  Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?"  Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more."  And He said to him, "You have rightly judged."  Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman?  I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.  You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.  You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.  Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much.  But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."  Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."  And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"  Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you.  Go in peace."

 

- Luke 7:36-50 

 

On Saturday, we read that the disciples of John the Baptist reported to him concerning all the things that were happening in Christ's ministry.  And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"  When the men had come to Him they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?'"  And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.  Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard:  that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."  When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John:  "What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  A reed shaken by the wind?  But what did you go out to see?  A man clothed in soft garments?  Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings' courts.  But what did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.  This is he of whom it is written:  'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.'  For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."  And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.  But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.  And the Lord said, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and the Lord said, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like?  They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying:  'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; We mourned to you, and you did not weep.'  For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.'  The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'  But wisdom is justified by all her children." 

 

 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him.  And He went to the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat.  And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.  Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, "This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner."  And Jesus answered and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you."  So he said, "Teacher, say it."  "There was a certain creditor who had two debtors.  One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both.  Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?"  Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more."  And He said to him, "You have rightly judged."  Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman?  I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.  You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.  You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.  Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much.  But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."  Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."   My study Bible comments on today's reading that this Pharisee is intrigued by Christ, which is shown by his invitation to Him.  But he clearly does not believe in Him, as shown by his reaction to Christ's mercy ("This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner"), and by his lack even of common hospitality shown toward Jesus ("I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil").  My study Bible adds that this encounter with the sinful woman is an icon of the grace found only in the Church.  Through her, comments St. Ambrose of Milan, "the Church is justified as being greater than the law, for the law does not know the forgiveness of sins, nor the mystery in which secret sins are cleansed; therefore, what is lacking in the Law is perfected in the Gospel."

And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"  Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you.  Go in peace."   According to my study Bible, that a man could forgive sins was beyond the bounds of the Law as the Pharisees understood it (see Luke 5:21).  But Christ was not a mere man, but rather the very Lawgiver Himself.  St. Cyril of Alexandria asks, "Who could declare things that were above the Law, except the One who ordained the Law?"

In our previous reading, on Saturday (see above), Jesus acknowledged the criticisms He (as well as John the Baptist) receives from the Pharisees and lawyers:  He's a friend of tax collectors and sinners!  He's a glutton and a winebibber!   On Saturday we read that even the tax collectors justified God, for they'd been baptized by John the Baptist, but not the Pharisees and the lawyers.  Here in today's reading, Jesus is invited to dine with a Pharisee, but is not treated with the courtesy usually given to honored guests in a home.  The one who does show Him  great courtesy and welcome -- and love -- is the sinful woman.  We don't know who this woman was; she's not the only woman in the Gospels who anointed Christ with oil.  But we can see her great act of love and honor.  In the anointing itself we can see the glory that she gives to Christ.  This gift, according to the commentary of St. Clement of Alexandria, is the most precious thing she had, her perfume, the one thing fitting to pay the greatest honor to Christ.  St. Ambrose writes, "The grace of many flowers gathered into a bouquet scatters different sweetness of fragrance. Perhaps none but the church alone can produce that ointment. The church has innumerable flowers of different fragrance."  Let us note that she first stood behind Christ, weeping, and then began to wash His feet with her tears, before she anointed His feet with this ointment.  If we understand the symbolism clear to the ancient world, her weeping and tears are evidence of her repentance for her life and the way she has lived it.  The perfume is akin to the healing ointments of the ancient world, a pure olive oil base with essences of flowers added, and so it is seen as a comfort to Christ.  The washing of His feet, drying with her hair, and anointing with oil is seen as a way to comfort the One who will comfort others.   We may even see that, as Christ Himself took on the likeness of a sinner (scandalous to the religious authorities, and crucified like the lowest of criminals), so this woman, appearing in the likeness of a sinner, reveals the Church in her love for Christ.  What today's passage undoubtedly shows us is the power of love that must be at work in our faith, for it is love that has truly saved her.  As Jesus pronounces it, love is the key to forgiveness.  For how do we show love to someone but through loyalty and faithfulness to them?  This is an important key to understanding what faith or belief means to Christ.  In John's Gospel, Jesus preaches to the people who've followed Him, after He fed them in the wilderness:  "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."  And they respond, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?"  Jesus tells them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."  It's important to understand how "belief" is meant to work in this context.  This kind of belief is more than intellectual assent to something.  The word for "faith" has as its root the word that means "trust," and that is the Greek word translated as "believe."  But what Jesus is asking for may be better translated as "faithfulness," as many scholars have commented.  That is, to be faithful to His teachings, to be faithful to what He asks of us, to be loyal.  And all of these things are signs of love, visible aspects of what it means to actively love someone, to be true to them.  So when Jesus teaches the parable on debts forgiven, He's speaking of this kind of relationship of love and trust and loyalty.  What makes covenant?  This woman clearly expresses love for Christ with her tears, as He has moved her to this great evidence of repentance in her desire for relationship with Him.  If we grasp the love of Christ, it is there repentance may happen, where shame is dropped for transformation instead.  She also gives the greatest gift she can give in terms of something valuable and precious to her.  And He responds with forgiveness, as He is the One capable of forgiving sins.  In a sense, her expression of love is a promise, one that must be ongoing to continue in relationship.  In the end, He does not say that her love has saved her, although the topic here is love in Jesus' dialogue with the Pharisee.  But linking the two concepts, He says to her, "Your faith has saved you.  Go in peace."   Let us take this journey into faith and forgiveness, and understand more deeply how faith must include love and loyalty, for without this understanding we cannot understand Jesus or His teachings to us.

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you"

 

Healing of the Paralytic - Toros of Taron 1276–ca. 1346, Armenian, Monastery of Gladzor Gospel Book 1300–1307

 So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.  Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed.  When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you."  And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!"  But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?  For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  And he arose and departed to his house.  Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

 

- Matthew 9:1-8 

 

Yesterday we read that when Jesus and the disciples had come to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way.  And suddenly they cried out, saying, "What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God?  Have You come here to torment us before the time?"  Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding.  So the demons begged Him, saying, "If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine."  And He said to them, "Go."  So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine.  And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.  Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men.  And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus.  And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.

 

 So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.   Jesus' own city is Capernaum (see Matthew 4:13).

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you."  And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!"  But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?  For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  And he arose and departed to his house.  Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.  As shown by the healing of the paralytic, faith is an indispensable condition for salvation.  In this particular healing, we must note that -- as my study Bible points out -- faith is collective as well as personal.  Here it is the faith of the paralytic's friends which also plays a role to help in his healing.  There are three signs of Jesus' divinity on display in today's reading.  First, that He knows the secrets of hearts (see 1 Samuel 16:7, 2 Chronicles 6:30).  Second, Christ forgives sins, which -- as the scribes know -- is a power which belongs to God alone.  Finally, Christ heals by the power of His word, an indication of His identity as the Word, through Whom the world was spoken into existence (John 1:1-3, Genesis 1:3).

We have spoken before of the indispensable power of faith that must be present in Christ's healings (see this reading and commentary).  But, what is interesting about today's reading, as my study Bible points out, is the nature of faith as not just individual, but also as collective.  That is, it works between us and among us, so that even the prayers of this man's friends availed him of Christ's healing power.  It is essential for us to understand this power of faith and prayer, as it forms a kind of circuit -- even a network, if you will.  There is a lot of modern understanding of networks, as our lives are filled with them through social media and all sorts of other tools of modern technology and our dependence upon them.  An ATM network for a bank is one such communication tool we rely on for our economies and commerce.  The internet is a network we all rely upon for myriad uses in communications of all types, be it between nations across the earth or individuals who need to communicate messages to one another, and everything in between, from business to military to commercial enterprises and information of all sorts.  In other words, the world today is reliant upon networks of all kinds.  But we rarely stop to think about how our faith also resembles one of these networks, as it also works in many ways.  To participate in the kingdom of God should invite us also to think about networks, and how one person's prayer may reach out to a saint who lived even many centuries ago, to God and to Christ, to the angels who watch over us, and all of this is contained in what it means to worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24).   When Jesus was asked by the Pharisees about the coming of the kingdom of God, He responded, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!'  For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you" (see Luke 17:20-21).  In the Greek, the words for "within you" can mean both within and among.  In other words, I believe this can be understood as implying both.  That is, the Kingdom dwells within our hearts, both individually and collectively.  It exists within us, and it exists among us.  And thereby, as we can see from today's reading, it also exists between us, so to speak.  That is, one person's prayers and faith may communicate another's, bringing them closer to God by some unknown mechanism connected deep within us, within a "network" we might even call "spirit and truth."  Certainly the mysterious workings of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, also work in this manner.  Jesus indicated so when He spoke to Nicodemus about Baptism, of being born of water and the Spirit.  He said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit" (John 3:5-8).  This mysterious description of the work of the Spirit, even the elements of water and wind, suggest networks of flowing energy that we can't necessarily detect or see but nevertheless are always at work, within us and among us.  As Jesus says, we may "hear" it but it blows where it wishes and creates its effects (the words in both Greek and Hebrew for wind, breath, and spirit are the same).  Clearly our faith works together with the grace of God and God's holiness in mysterious ways, among and between us, connecting us all in unknown and unfathomably infinite ways to one another and even to the meanings in the word of God.  This is what faith is, and thereby, through the demonstration of the paralyzed man in today's reading, we must count on the idea that these mysterious networks and connections are at work in us when we pray and worship and otherwise practice our faith, seeking God's guidance for our lives, and even for those for whom we pray as well, and among whom we dwell.  Paralysis, in the viewpoint of our forebears, has been seen as likeness to sin:  it keeps us stuck somewhere.  We don't go forward.  In this perspective, we could liken it to a kind of immaturity, a place where we are stuck in our growth process.  To bring in God's energies of grace is to help to heal by getting us moving forward again, and repentance and forgiveness work hand in hand in this endeavor.  If we can pray for one another, we can also help one another to become "unstuck" and healed from our paralysis by coming closer to Christ.  Let us consider all the myriad ways faith works in its mysterious manners, and know that this is for us and within us, within us and among us.

 

 

I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little

 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him.  And He went to the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat.  And behold, a woman of the city who was a sinner, when he knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.  Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, "This Man, if He were a prophet, would know what who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner."  And Jesus answered and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you."  So he said, "Teacher, say it."

"There was a certain creditor who had two debtors.  One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both.  Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?"  Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more."  And He said to him, "You have rightly judged."  Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman?  I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.  You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.  You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.  Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much.  But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."  Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."  And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"  Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you.  Go in peace."

- Luke 7:36-50

 On Saturday we read that the disciples of John reported to him concerning all the things that Jesus had done.  And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"  When the men had come to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?'"  And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.   Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard:  that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."  When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John:  "What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  A reed shaken by the wind?  But what did you go out to see?  A man clothed in soft garments?  Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings' courts.  But what did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.  This is he of whom it is written:  'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.'  For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist, but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."  And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.  But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.  And the Lord said, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like?  They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying:  'We played the flute for you, and you did not  dance; we mourned to you, and you did not weep.' "For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.'  The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'  But wisdom is justified by all her children."

  Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him.  And He went to the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat.  And behold, a woman of the city who was a sinner, when he knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.  Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, "This Man, if He were a prophet, would know what who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner."  And Jesus answered and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you."  So he said, "Teacher, say it."   My study bible says that this Pharisee was intrigued by Christ, which is shown by his invitation for Christ to eat with Him at his house.   But we can read his critical thoughts of Jesus, that he isn't a faithful follower or disciple, in his assumptions about the known sins of this woman and Christ's willingness to allow her to touch Him.

"There was a certain creditor who had two debtors.  One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both.  Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?"  Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more."  And He said to him, "You have rightly judged."  Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman?  I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.  You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.  You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.  Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much.  But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."  Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."  Jesus tells a parable which illustrates His own understanding of sinfulness, healing, need, and love.   Jesus gives more evidence of the Pharisee's lack of belief in Him, and his lack of love for Christ:  he lacked even common hospitality toward Him.  In a sense, the parable told by Jesus has much in common with the parable of the Prodigal Son, which is found only in Luke's Gospel (15:11-32).  The "perfect," or those who have sinned little (or who think of themselves on these terms), need little forgiveness, and therefore love little.  But this woman, aware of her sins and need for forgiveness, loves much.  My study bible calls this encounter with the sinful woman an icon of the grace which is only found in the Church.  It quotes St. Ambrose of Milan, who says that through her, "the Church is justified as being greater than the Law, for the Law does not know the forgiveness of sins, nor the mystery in which secret sins are cleansed; therefore, what is lacking in the Law is perfected in the Gospel."  

And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"  Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you.  Go in peace."  My study bible says that the idea that a man could forgive sins was beyond the bounds of the Law as understood by the Pharisees (see 5:21).  But Christ was not simply a mere man; He is the Lawgiver Himself.  St. Cyril of Alexandria asks, "Who could declare things that were above the Law, except the One who ordained the Law?"

Jesus introduces a parable which gives the idea of sin as a form of debt, and forgiveness as akin to the forgiveness of a debt, as in the Lord's Prayer (11:1-4, Matthew 6:9-14).  But this being the Gospel written by Luke the physician, and in which Jesus also compares Himself to a physician (Luke 5:31), when He is criticized for dining with tax collectors and sinners after Matthew the tax collector became a disciple (see this reading).  In this perspective, sinfulness is akin to sickness, and the Gospel includes incidents of healing in which the afflicted are also told to "sin no more," such as that of the paralytic healed by Christ with the help from his friends (in this reading).   But in today's reading, Jesus speaks of love, and therefore indicates that what is included in healing and forgiveness is also relationship, communion, and that the communion which God seeks with God's people is one of love.  In this love, we are given to understand, is where we find healing, cleansing, and right-relatedness to Creator.  It is a way of opening up a new revelation:  that it is not simply those who lead outwardly blameless lives who are "perfect" in faith, but in fact those who have much need of forgiveness may be capable of loving more.  Out of the ills of this world can come a deeper healing and greater faith than a simplistic understanding of what it is to be faithful to God.  Indeed, hidden here is the understanding that repentance is for all of us; we do not live in a perfect world, and therefore by definition each of us needs to come to Christ to see clearly, to understand our own particular ailments or blindness, to find true health.  In this sense, the sinful woman who showed such love for Christ is more healthy than the Pharisee, simply evidenced by the fact that she loved much.  In the fallen condition of the world, it is not easy to see what we lack and what we need.  It is, indeed, through love that we find true repentance, which comes through an awareness of where God may be asking us to change what we might not understand we need to change and grow.  It's also important to understand that the Greek word "sin" simply means "missing the mark."  In this perspective, we all have ways in which we can change to come closer to our true image in the sight of Christ.  The quite obviously sinful, those who have failed in the eyes of the world, may be acutely more aware of the healing, forgiveness, and love from God that they need -- and therefore much better off spiritually than the Pharisees of our world, in whatever form or modern guise they can be found, and those guises and forms are myriad and surprising.  The Greek in the Gospel can be read to mean more literally that those who love much are forgiven much, and those who love little are forgiven little.  Let us consider the love to which He calls us, how that love confers of state of grace and healing within a capacity for communion with God who is love.  Let us also consider the blindness to it that can separate us from God and our own need for healing.   In God's love is the surprising good news of Christ.

Great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed

 And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."  Immediately the leprosy left him.  And He charged him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded."  However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.  So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem.  And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.  Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him.  And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.  When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."  And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies?  Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.  And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today!"

- Luke 5:12-26

 Yesterday we read that, as the multitude pressed about Jesus to hear the word of God, He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.  Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land.  And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.  When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."  But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net."  And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.  So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them.  And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.  When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"  For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.  And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid.  From now on you will catch men."  So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."  Immediately the leprosy left him.  Leprosy, says my study bible, was one of the most dreaded diseases of Jesus' time.  It brought not only tremendous physical suffering, but also meant total banishment and isolation from society.  It is also seen as a symbol of our sin.  To touch a leper was prohibited, but Jesus' heals the man by touch.

And He charged him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded."   Jesus is respectful of the Law, and sends the man to a priest as is required for his re-entry into the community.  My study bible notes the commentary of Cyril of Alexandria, who writes that Jesus gives this command in order to convince the priests by a tangible miracle that He is superior to Moses.  The priests hold Moses to be greater than Christ, but Christ heals a leper immediately and with His own divine authority.  When Miriam (Moses' sister) was struck with leprosy, Moses had to seek mercy from above, and even then she was only healed after seven days (Numbers 12:10-15).

However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.  So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.  It's important to understand Jesus' humanity and also His discernment and constant connection to the Father.  He withdraws often into the wilderness for prayer.   So should we do likewise, as we all need time alone for prayer and to take rest in prayer.

Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem.  And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.   Matthew's Gospel sets this passage in Capernaum, calling it "His own city" (Matthew 9:1).  By now Jesus' fame is so well-spread, that those authorities have come from all over Israel to His "headquarters" (most likely the family home of Simon Peter) to hear Him.

Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him.  And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.  When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."  Here is a faith exhibited not only in the paralytic but even in his friends, who help him with every effort to get to Jesus.  My study bible says that this particular miracle shows us that faith is an indispensable condition for salvation.  Faith, in fact, is collective as well as personal -- a notable reality of the Kingdom -- for the faith of this paralytic's friends helped in his healing.  The acts of these friends can be seen as similar to those who pray for others in all situations; even our prayers for the dead are considered to be effective appeals to the mercy of God.

And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies?  Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.  And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today!"   There are three signs of Jesus' divinity exhibited in today's passage.  First, He knows the secrets of hearts (see 1 Samuel 16:7; 2 Chronicles 6:30).  Second, He forgives sins, which is a power that belongs to God alone.  And finally, He heals by the power of His word.

It's important to note that Jesus rests and withdraws for prayer, and that He does so often and into the wilderness.  That is, into a deserted place away from people.  We all need this.  If even Jesus, the Christ or Messiah, needs this for Himself, one can only imagine how badly we need it, not only for direction in our lives, and guidance, but even for proper rest and withdrawal from a busy, social life.  There are multitudes coming to see Jesus.  His ministry has reached a place where it may be seen in modern terms as "successful," but what we really learn is how word about Him has spread, and how much He is in demand.  All sorts come to Him now for healing, and to hear Him as well.  By worldly standards, we are often set to think that as much work as one can do as possible is simply the one and only really "good" thing.  We might even think in terms of "doing good" in the world, good works, healing and preaching, that we would admire Jesus for being so busy all the time, and responding to all the needs and demands that come to Him from the world.  But that's not really the example that Jesus sets here.  The Gospel tells us not only that He would withdraw away from people, into the wilderness, and to pray, but even that He would do so often.  We can't quite get it into our worldly heads and understanding that this, too, is part of ministry, part of healing the world.  It's that divine connection with God, with the Kingdom of heaven, that we find in prayer and withdrawal from social life that functions not just as a sort of reset button, not just as refreshment and renewal, but that in fact creates the conditions within which we are able to serve God.  To dwell within this place of relationship, to abide in Him (and in the Holy Trinity) is to live in a place from which we are capable of bringing God's love into the world and all that means for the world, as embodied in Jesus Christ.  To withdraw into the wilderness isn't merely a response to the demands put upon Him in terms of needing rest.  It is, on the contrary, a place for Christ to go in order to direct His ministry from here, to conduct it as He needs to, to respond to the conditions of the ministry as He is called to do, and to discern what He needs to do going forward.  And we should take this all to heart for our own lives as Christians and as followers of Christ.  For us, taking rest "in Him" becomes a way to find ourselves and find direction for what we do with our lives, as well as personal renewal.  To sit contemplatively in a church service may function for us the same way, renewal that is available in those times of "collective faith" that my study bible speaks of.  All of this is reinforcement of the Kingdom in the world, the place in which we wish to dwell, and it is not merely a response to busy-ness and a demanding life.  Rather, it is the place where we may nurture the seeds of the Kingdom, renew our direction and intentions, forgive what we need to forgive, and spend time with God in the embrace of God's love and grace.  What we should understand is that in the terms of the holy, this is the place where beauty is, and where we may become a part of it and abide in it, and be a part of it in the world.  Let us follow and learn from His example, for all gifts come from there.

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you"

 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house.  Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door.  And He preached the word to them.  Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.  And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was.  So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.  When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."  And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this?  Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- He said to the paralytic, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

- Mark 2:1-12

Yesterday, we read that as Jesus and the disciples had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.  So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her.  And she served them.  At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.  And the whole city was gathered together at the door.  Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.  Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.  And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.  When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You."  But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth."  And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.  Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touch him, and said, "I am willing; be cleansed."  As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.  And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."  However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house.  Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door.  And He preached the word to them.  Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.  And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was.  So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.   What's interesting here is the degree of detail we're given.  Mark's Gospel, so far, has run along at a good clip, so to speak.  We've been taken very rapidly into the heart of Jesus' ministry.  He's already extraordinarily well-known and popular in Galilee.  Here we get more details to fill out the picture:  there's not even room in the house to greet guests, not even near the door.  But Jesus uses every place that is filled with those who come to see Him and hear Him, and so He preaches.  But this house still can't contain all those who come for Him.  A paralytic is brought by his friends, and they are so desiring to see Jesus that the roof is uncovered so that the paralytic can be let down on his bed into the midst of the house.  We can imagine that this house is possibly thatched with some sort of material that is easily removed and put back, or it's possible it's a tiled roof from which tiles can be removed and broken up.  But the details are teaching us something, besides leading us to wonder about how the house is constructed!  They teach us about how briskly so many come to faith in Jesus, and how strongly they want to be in His presence, to hear what He teaches and be healed by Him.  It's all an expression of desire and effort.

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."   The point here is faith.  All that effort, all that desire -- it's all about the faith, or rather the trust, that is put in Jesus.  And it is Jesus who responds so strongly to that faith.

And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this?  Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- He said to the paralytic, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"   My study bible encourages us to note that one purpose of Christ's coming into the world is to forgive sins, to free humanity from its bondage.  It says, "Forgiving sins is a greater power than physical healing, for, as the scribes correctly note, God alone can forgiven sins.   Thus the easier task is to grant physical healing.  Though Christ is fully God and holds the authority to forgive, He condescends to those gathered and heals this man in order to draw people to God, whom they glorified."

Mark's Gospel starts its second chapter with an important change.  Up until now we've gone through the early events of Jesus' ministry with a strong pace, but suddenly everything "slows down" in today's reading to give us rich detail.  The house is so full no one can be greeted at the door.  A paralytic is brought by his friends, and all so desire to see Jesus that the full house can't stop them.  The roof is taken apart in order to lower the man down in his bed.  All of this detail is told to give us an impression, an understanding, of just how much people desire to see Jesus.  It teaches us why Jesus is impressed by their faith.  And that's a root core of this story, it is a story about faith and how faith works to bring us closer to God.  The text tells us that it's not just the faith of the paralytic that Jesus sees, but the faith of his friends as well.  Faith is a word, we recall, that is akin to trust in the original Greek.  They've put their trust in Christ.  Often it's commented regarding this passage that it teaches us about prayer, how we can act as intercessors or intermediaries for others by praying for them, and this is the role of those who bring this paralytic man closer to Christ.  The text teaches us also that we may act as a community, as a body, to help one another.  It seems to say that our combined faith does something for us more powerfully than we can do for ourselves.  This becomes a great purpose in worship as well, and at prayer in a group.  We can "carry" one another.  Still other commentaries from Tradition teach us that paralysis is a kind of metaphor for sin.  When we're stuck in sin, a false way of thinking or acting, we're paralyzed:  we don't move forward.  We don't get on with life, with healing.  And the text teaches us also that friends can help us with that, too.  The prayer of others is effective in helping us get "unstuck" from the place we're in, where we need to change our minds, see a better way, and come to the Healer for our own ailments.  All of this is there in this story with all its details, so that we can understand how this applies in our own lives as well.  Do you know someone who needs prayers?  Do you gather in worship to strengthen your own faith and prayer?  Let us consider all the ways in which God may be calling us to come to greater faith, and in which we may bring others to God.  The prayers of the saints, in the whole communion of the faithful, also act as intercessors, intermediaries, and we call upon them to pray for us as well.  This is the mystical reality of faith, of the Kingdom.  We are connected in this communion.  The life of the Church is the blood of faith, that circulates through and within each of us and for the other.  Let us not forget that when we strengthen our own faith in prayer, we may also be filling a well, a kind of great reservoir, for all others who need it as well.  We can build strength for others who need it when they, too, are paralyzed.

Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little

 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him.  And He went to the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat.  And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.  Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, "This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner."

And Jesus answered and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you."  So he said, "Teacher, say it."  "There was a certain creditor who had two debtors.  One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both.  Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?"  Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more."  And He said to him, "You have rightly judged."  Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman?  I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.  You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.  You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.  Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much.  But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."  Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."  And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"  Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you.  Go in peace."

- Luke 7:36-50

On Saturday, we read that the disciples of John reported to him concerning all the things done in Jesus' ministry.  And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"  When the men had come to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?'  And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.  Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard:  that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."  When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John:  "What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  A reed shaken by the wind?  But what did you go out to see?  A man clothed in soft garments?  Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings' courts.  But what did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.  This is he of whom it is written:  'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.'  For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."  And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.  But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.  And the Lord said, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like?  They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying:'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; We mourned to you, and you did not weep.' "For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.'  The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, an you say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'  But wisdom is justified by all her children."

 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him.  And He went to the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat.  And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.  Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, "This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner."      We can see a great contrast here.  By his invitation extended to Christ, we can see that the Pharisee is intrigued by Him and wishes to have this well-known teacher in his house.  And then there comes an apparently well-known woman, called a "sinner" here, who also meets Jesus in the house of the Pharisee. 

And Jesus answered and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you."  So he said, "Teacher, say it."  "There was a certain creditor who had two debtors.  One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both.  Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?"  Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more."  And He said to him, "You have rightly judged."  Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman?  I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.  You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.  You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.  Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much.  But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."  Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."    My study bible contrasts the woman and the Pharisee:  the Pharisee clearly doesn't believe in Christ, as shown by his reaction to Christ's mercy and also his lack of even common hospitality.  In his heart, he offers Christ criticism.  We contrast his lack with the abundance of the woman that is shared with and lavished on Christ.  My study bible tells us that the encounter with this sinful woman is an icon of grace that is found only in the Church.   Ambrose of Milan writes that through this woman, "the Church is justified as being greater than the Law, for the Law does not know the forgiveness of sins, nor the mystery in which secret sins are cleansed; therefore, what is lacking in the Law is perfected in the Gospel."

And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"  Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you.  Go in peace."  My study bible says the fact that a man could forgive sins was beyond the bounds of the Law as the Pharisees understood it (see 5:21).  But Christ was not a mere man; He's the very Lawgiver Himself.   Cyril of Alexandria writes, "Who could declare things that were above the Law, except the One who ordained the Law?"

There is a kind of interesting contrast about faith in this reading.  We first of all make note of the "wealth" or "poverty" of each character here.  Jesus is invited in to dine at a Pharisee's house.  We can assume this is a man of enough status and means to treat Jesus to a fine dinner, and most likely with many other guests present.  But we read that he doesn't even offer Jesus the customary ablutions nor greetings.   Perhaps it is a sort of "status" question.  Jesus is an itinerant minister with a very popular following; we can imagine the man invites Him simply out of curiosity or in order to hear Him or question Him.  The woman, on the other hand, is seemingly a well-known outcast.  She obviously hasn't been invited but has come to see Christ.  She treats Him as if He is visiting royalty, a great Lord.  She washes His feet with her tears, using her own hair as towel.  She anoints His feet with an expensive fragrant oil; she blesses His feet with many kisses.  But the Pharisee criticizes, to himself, both the woman and Christ for allowing her to touch Him.  We can see the great differences in stature implied in all of this.  Most intriguingly, when Jesus teaches Simon about forgiveness, He uses as example the forgiveness of debt (as in the Lord's Prayer, where we are taught to pray in a manner that likens sins to debts:  "Forgive us our sins, as we forgive our debtors," reads the Greek in Luke 11).  But by contrast, we see who is the richer in some sense in the actions at the dinner.  Simon, as host, isn't very hospitable, nor lavish with Jesus who is his guest.  But this woman, a sinner, is like she is the wealthiest person present, given the largesse with which she treats Jesus, expressing her great love.  Interestingly, it also follows Jesus' words to the crowds about the Baptist in Saturday's reading, when He asks what they expected to find in a great prophet -- surely not the soft robes found in king's courts -- contrasting the rough asceticism of the Baptist whom Jesus defends.  I think experiencing the love of Christ -- as in the example He uses of forgiveness -- makes us very wealthy people indeed.  Somehow being "in touch," if you will, with the Lord, gives us a sense of just what we do have in abundance, and perhaps allows us in a very helpful way to see our own resources in the light of Christ, as an expression of His love.  When we enter into this ongoing, living relationship implied both in the Lord's Prayer, and in the story of forgiveness told in today's reading by Jesus, our resources also become transformed into means by which we live out the Kingdom in this world.  No longer merely an asset for ourselves, but also transformed into a kind of wealth that can express the aims of the Kingdom, wealth becomes gift.  It becomes a trust, a kind of fund through which we are capable of doing the things Christ asks us to do with it.  In that sense, we also "adorn" God with our love.  We can put what we have in His service, in whatever way we feel God calls us to do so.  Above all, we are rich with His love, especially in the ways in which we can return His love for us even in the way this woman does so.  Oftentimes it seems that we are bereft when we think about what we personally might wish we had, but if we think about what we can do that Christ might wish from us, there are plenty of resources at hand.  Let us remember that we are blessed in what He gives us and thereby what we have to give:  a gesture, some attention, even the smallest gift of love is one that we remember.  And it reminds us that we have much to give.  It is our faith that makes us wealthy.  And this woman becomes yet one more of those examples in whom "wisdom is justified by all her children."