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 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 concerning all these things that Christ was doing in His 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, 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 here that this Pharisee was intrigued by Christ, as evidenced by his invitation.  And yet, he clearly does not believe in Christ -- which is shown in his reaction to Jesus' mercy.  Moreover, Jesus points out the man's lack of even common hospitality (verses 44-46), a sure sign of lack of respect.  My study Bible further elaborates on today's reading that Christ's encounter with this sinful woman is an icon of the grace that's found in the Church.  St. Ambrose of Milan commented 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 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 notes that the suggestion that a man could forgive sins was beyond the bounds of the law as understood by the Pharisees (see Luke 5:21).  But Christ wasn't a mere human being only; He was the very Lawgiver Himself.  St. Cyril of Alexandria is quoted as commenting, "Who could declare things that were above the Law, except the One who ordained the Law?"

 

One thing is very striking about today's reading.  In our present day and age we tend to take Christ's mercy for granted, which is unfortunate.  But taking things for granted is very important to today's reading, for what we read in this woman's love for Christ seems to be a supreme expression of gratitude on her part.  We don't often see gratitude as a form of love, but in this instance we have the perfect illustration of that concept.  Jesus says it Himself, "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."   It is surprising how little importance we often give to gratitude, but in Christ's eyes here, it is practically everything.  This woman's status in His eyes is clearly elevated -- and praised -- for her expression of love and gratitude.  So long as we feel entitled to grace, or entitled to forgiveness (or perhaps "entitled" to just about anything), we will struggle to understand the proper role of gratitude in a well-ordered life and its place in our ways of thinking.  This is especially true for those who call ourselves Christian.  There is nothing that surpasses the importance of recognizing how significant our dependence upon God really is, and the light that casts on how we live our lives, and how we view ourselves and our circumstances.  With her fragrant oil, this woman shows an extravagant thanks indeed, a gratitude that can only be borne of being freed from a kind of slavery to her sin.  It is this the Pharisee doesn't see, and perhaps cannot understand.  He doesn't see the reality of Christ, doesn't even receive Him with the hospitality (or common courtesy, as my study Bible says) that would no doubt be shown to a fellow Pharisee.  Do you and I value what Christ has to offer us?  Do we understand the depth of dependency upon and the love of God for us?  This is what we see if we but open our eyes and look at the extravagance of love, the release from a debt.  And yet, how many of us may take this for granted?

 

 

 

gratitude underrated

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 

 

Yesterday we read that the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things that Jesus had preached and 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 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 that this Pharisee, who invited Jesus to his house to eat, was intrigued by Christ.  This is evidenced by his invitation, but clearly the man does not believe in Jesus, as shown by his reaction to the Lord's mercy, and by his lack even of common hospitality ("You gave Me no kiss . . . You did not anoint My head with oil").  My study Bible says that this encounter with the sinful woman is an icon of the grace which is found only in the Church.  It cites St. Ambrose of Milan, who writes 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 explains here that it was beyond the bounds of the Law as the Pharisees understood it that man could forgive sins (see Luke 5:21).   But Christ is not a mere man; He is 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?"

I am intrigued by Christ's final statement in today's reading.  It's directed at the woman who anointed Him with oil.  He tells her, "Your faith has saved you.  Go in peace."   Since the text tells us clearly that this was a woman in the city who was a sinner, we can presume that in her expression of faith and gratitude toward Christ is included the aspect of repentance on her part.  Moreover, that she was weeping, and her tears were falling, are classic signs that accompany repentance.  They are associated with a kind of mourning over sin, especially our own sin.  When Jesus tells her, "Your faith has saved you," this is a complete statement of effect.  But also, in some sense, it implies something continuing into the future, for faith is not something that is a one-moment decision only.  Faith implies a continuing future of acting upon its premise.  That she has faith in, and trust in who Christ is and who He says He is, means that there is a future into which she proceeds from here that is rooted in that faith.  "Go in peace" would seem to indicate the same, for it indicates a future road or path, a way to go forward for her, in Christ's peace.  So it seems to me that the faith of this woman implies not simply salvation and a kind of healing through the forgiveness of Christ on a one-time basis, but rather acts as an ongoing foundation for her life, as implied in the text.  Faith can't simply be something we decide we have one day and then pack it away like something in a drawer we don't open again, or seldom take out.  Faith implies a basis for our lives as a lived foundation every day, and this is the way she can "go in peace."  There is more than one story in the Gospels of a woman who anoints Jesus with oil; in John's Gospel there is a story where she is clearly identified as Mary of Bethany, the sister of Lazarus (John 12:1-8).  In patristic commentaries, some identified these stories as belonging to more than one occasion and perhaps as two or possibly three different women.  But the identities we can assign to these women stem from women known to this early ministry of Jesus, such as Mary Magdalene and Mary of Bethany.  Again, we infer that this woman was not simply pronounced saved without an ongoing participation in the community of believers; Christ's salvation in some sense indicates a pretext for the future, an ongoing engagement in salvation and faith.  Jesus gives her a premise, a hope, a new future.  In any case, His "go in peace" implies a willingness to sin no more, as He tells the woman taken in adultery (see John 8:1-11).  In Christ's peace there is a hope for her future, for this is really what it is to be saved, to enter the kingdom of God, which is within us and among us.  It is a place in which we may dwell and live our lives, and Christ's peace is something we seek to live every day.  

And when he thought about it, he wept

 

 Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came.  And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with Jesus of Nazareth."  But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are saying."  And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed.  And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, "This is one of them."  But he denied it again.  And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, "Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it."  Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know this Man of whom you speak!"  A second time the rooster crowed.  Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times."  And when he thought about it, he wept.

 

- Mark 14:66–72 

 

Yesterday we read that they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes.  But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest.  And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.  Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none.  For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree.  Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, "We heard Him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.'"  But not even then did their testimony agree.  And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, "Do You answer nothing?  What is it these men testify against You?"  But He kept silent and answered nothing.  Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"  Jesus said, "I am.  And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."  Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "What further need do we have of witnesses?  You have heard the blasphemy!  What do you think?"  And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.  Then some began to spit on Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, "Prophesy!"  And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands.   

 Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came.  And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with Jesus of Nazareth."  But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are saying."  And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, "This is one of them."  But he denied it again. We can't read this passage without refreshing our memories of the events earlier in the night, when Peter swore to Jesus at the Last Supper, "Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be."  Jesus then told Peter, "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times."  Peter then spoke more vehemently, "If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!"  (See Friday's reading.)  My study Bible comments regarding the events in today's passage that a girl being the first to test Peter is an icon of the temptation of Adam by Eve (Genesis 3:6).  Our fallen state, it says, is overcome in Christ when women are the first to hear, believe, and proclaim the Resurrection (Luke 24:1-10).  

And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, "Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it."  Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know this Man of whom you speak!"  A second time the rooster crowed.  Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times."  And when he thought about it, he wept.   As Mark reports it, the second time the rooster crowed, Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him.  In Luke's report of this event, it's not the rooster's second crow that makes Peter recall Jesus' word to him, but a gaze from the Lord Himself (Luke 22:61-62).  Either way, Peter wept at the realization.  My study Bible quotes St. Ambrose of Milan who comments that "through tears, what cannot be defended can be purged, for tears wash away the offense which is shameful to confess out loud."

St. Ambrose comments on the cleansing nature of tears.  This is an important understanding in the traditions of the Church.  The Orthodox tradition of using prayer ropes evolved out of the practice of the desert monastics, in which knots are made for use as "beads" of prayer.  In such practice, there is almost always a tassel at the end of the rope (see this image, for example).  It is said that this tassel is for wiping away the tears that come from true repentance.  There is possible no greater nor more powerful image for such cleansing tears as the one of St. Peter in today's reading.  In so many ways, Peter has set the example of discipleship for us, both in his failings and in his greatness as de facto spokesman for the Twelve.  In today's reading, the comment from St. Ambrose reminds us, we are taught by Peter's example, that "through tears, what cannot be defended can be purged, for tears wash away the offense which is shameful to confess out loud."  While people might often speak disparagingly of those who are able to produce false tears at the drop of a hat, historically it is understood that it is in tears that the soul truly reveals itself.  We cry not only for repentance about those things of which we are ashamed, but also for other things which we cannot change -- and still, the tears remain signs of truthfulness, and also repentance of a different sort.  That is, tears are also signs of the sorrow that comes from mourning.  Tears might easily accompany a confession of childhood abuse or trauma; in the sense of which we speak today, these would not be tears of self-pity nor even tears of suffering, but tears that accompany the recognition of a truth one does not like to admit to oneself.  This still fits in the important category of repentance and confession, for it isn't until we can reveal the painful truths at the bottom of behavior patterns we'd like to heal that we can begin to have the "change of mind" we seek in Christ (for "change of mind" is the true meaning of the Greek word for repentance).  In modern times we seem to have waylaid our understanding of the significance of tears in this light, but that would seem to me a grave mistake.  Possibly it is because we are saturated with images on social and other media where, for decades now, we can see nothing but acting or playing a role.  But the significance of the tears that memories can produce in our own lives should not be thrown away easily or lightly, for a great deal depends upon the reality that is truly revealed in such tears.   In those tears, the soul reveals true feelings about past events, the trauma of things we've kept hidden from ourselves, the shame of those experiences we don't want to look at.  But the healing even from things that are not our fault is necessary in the process of transformation and repentance ("change of mind") that we will find in our journey with Christ, for it is from such painful experiences that false behaviors grow, and that depend upon the lies we tell to ourselves.  The only true way to heal is through the faith that Christ offers us, and the transformation process of the Cross to find the better way in which we are guided to live our lives, for of such character is true confession made, even in the lives of the saints.  Our toughest and most shameful experiences belong with Christ, for it is His way we seek out of them and through them.  This is part of the process of forgiveness, in which we seek God's way to respond even to people who have harmed us.  Just as tears reveal St. Peter's coming to terms with the truth of his own failure and reconciliation to Christ in the truth that Christ revealed to him, so tears also reconcile us to the truth of things we'd rather pretend were not there in any circumstance.  Each comes out of necessary confession and revelation of a truth we need to face, and each comes to wash away falsehood before Christ, and to help to reconcile us to Christ.  For it is only Christ who can help us to properly address our flaws and weaknesses, and the hard experiences that have given us our vulnerabilities.  It is Christ and the saints, and the angels who seek to help us through life, upon whom we must seek our way through pain and difficulty, lest we fall victim to false ways in which to cope or create the illusion of invulnerability or pride.  Let us come to terms with the power of tears and of confession, in which our soul is revealed to us before God, in the loving hands and heart of Christ.  In this way, like Peter, our tears can wash away what can't be defended so that we return to Him with empty hands, for only He can properly fill them for us.

 

 

 

For she loved much

 

 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 

 

Yesterday we read that the disciples of John the Baptist reported to him concerning all the things done by Jesus in His 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, 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."  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."  Commenting on today's entire passage, my study bible says that this Pharisee is intrigued by Christ.  This is clear from his invitation for Christ to eat in his home.  But he also clearly doesn't believe in Christ, as is seen in his reaction to Jesus' mercy -- and even a lack of common hospitality in context of the time, which is specified by Jesus.  My study bible also tells us, importantly, that the encounter with the sinful woman is an icon of the grace which is found only in the Church.  St.  Ambrose of Milan has taught 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."  We also need to understand the perspective that gives rise to the question, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"  The idea that a man could forgive sins was beyond the bounds of the Law as understood by the Pharisees (see also 5:21).  But Christ, we are to understand, isn't a mere man, but the Lawgiver Himself.  My study bible quotes St. Cyril of Alexandria, who asks, "Who could declare things that were above the Law, except the One who ordained the Law?"

It's very interesting that it is a time when Jesus dines in the home of a Pharisee that this "sinful woman" has come to express her great love for Christ.  She does it in a dramatic gesture, reported more than once in the Gospels.  She is first of all so humble that she stands behind Christ, and weeps.  She brings a very expensive jar of fragrant perfume oil.  As a deep sign of penitence and love, she washes His feet with her tears, dries them with her hair, and anoints His feet with this fragrant oil.  These are all signs of deep grace.  In effect, where the Pharisee himself does not do Christ the honor of receiving Him with the fullness of hospitality, this woman does so.  We don't necessarily know who she is.  Is she poor?  Is she wealthy and so can afford the extravagant expensive perfume oil?  Is she known to all because she's a rather notorious woman, and someone with a reputation for indulging in the social and material pleasures of life which are afforded to her?  We don't know all of that, although we might infer some of those details.  But one thing is certain:  in Christ she has found something.  As so many others did at that time, and so many other since, she has found a rooted place of belonging in the forgiveness and genuine love she obviously knows is present for her in Christ.  Let's note something else which is remarkable:  Jesus doesn't protest.  He doesn't protest that she's making rather a spectacle in front of all of these presumably dignified men at the dinner.  He doesn't protest that she's disrupted this social affair.  What's even more striking is that He doesn't protest that she's making a fuss over Him in particular.  He fully allows her to make these tremendous signs of love and honor.   The only thing that we can conclude is that in His great wisdom and love, He understands that this is something that is for her.  He already knows that her sins are forgiven in Him.  But to allow this public display of total devotion is to form a greater bond, to suffer the scorn of the others present at such a seeming scandal.  It's not only of healing value for her, this great expression of love and gratitude, but it's a time for Him to teach and express one more aspect of His divinity, His capacity to forgive.  We might easily imagine her exclusion from the religious community, but she is reconciled to God in Christ who forgives.  Hence, as Jesus explains, the great demonstration of love she brings to the table, one in which we are to understand that along with her many sins there is also the capacity for great love.  This great love is expressed in the faith that Christ recognizes, which results in His great forgiveness.  The text as translated might lead us to say that people love in response to how much they are forgiven.  But we're talking about the love and forgiveness of God, which is not measured at all.  Instead, I believe we're to take Jesus at His word, that her many sins are forgiven "for she loved much" -- and her great love is evidence of the faith which Jesus says saves her.  It is those who love only a little who are forgiven a little.  In this sense, a true desire for Christ and what He offers to us becomes a measure of the forgiveness we might realize.  In theological terms, this is called "eros" and it implies a depth of desire for God which is chaste.  In her great love is also the willing strength of her repentance, as it reflects the desire for reconciliation with God.  Perhaps this scandalous woman has found the right place for her desire, after looking in all the wrong places.  At any rate, it is a story found every day in the life of the faithful -- an idea that may be shocking to some today without understanding, just as it was to the Pharisee and his guests at the table.  Consider the link of the capacity for great love and its connection to our capacity to be devoted to Christ in faith.  It is a lesson we need to know to understand the soul, and the deep psychological wisdom of Christ.

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

Yesterday we read that the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things that Jesus had been doing.  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 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."  This woman shows the characteristic sign of an awareness of her failings, her sins:  weeping.  St. Ambrose contrasts the Pharisee with this woman by saying, "The Law does not possess the mystery in which secret sins are cleansed," illustrating that "what is lacking in the Law is perfected in the Gospel."   My study bible says that the Pharisee is intrigued by Christ, as evidenced by his invitation, but he clearly does not believe in Him, as shown by his reaction to Christ's mercy.  There's also a great contrast between the woman and the Pharisee, as Christ notes:  the Pharisee's hospitality to Christ does not extend even to the common practices of the time.  Rather it is the sinful woman is is an icon of grace, which my study bible says is found only in the Church. 

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 explains that the fact that a man could forgive sins was beyond the bounds of the Law as the Pharisees understood it.  But Christ is not a mere man, but rather the very Lawgiver Himself.  My study bible quotes Cyril of Alexandria:  "Who could declare things that were above the Law, except the One who ordained the Law?"

So much once again comes down to hospitality, if we understand its effect and importance.  How do you greet others, or one another?  Is it with grace?  Look at the contrast between the Pharisee and this "sinful" woman.  It is her gracious actions toward Christ that form a true icon of hospitality.  The currency that runs between the woman and Christ, which He notes Himself in speaking to the Pharisee, is love.  It is a love and forgiveness that go hand in hand.   What comes first?   In St. Ambrose's commentary on this passage, he cites St. Paul, who writes to the Corinthians:  "You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart" (2 Corinthians 3:2-3).  St. Ambrose notes that the true Judea is the house of the Law that is written not on stones but on the tablets of the heart.  As this woman has known grace, so she expresses it.  In the Sermon on the Plain, which we recently read, Jesus speaks extensively about mercy, and our share in it, and how we should share it with others.  He tells us to "be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful," and also adds, "Judge not, and you shall not be judged.  Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you:  good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."   (See this reading.)   What is offensive about this Pharisee is not merely his failure to understand forgiveness of sins, but his failure to show true grace under his own roof.  Ultimately, he fails in his hospitality to Christ -- both in failing to treat Christ with common courtesy, and also in ultimately judging Christ for allowing the woman to show Him the hospitality which the Pharisee failed to show.  All too often in modern life, we regret the lack of "good manners" in our society.  We forget that the concept of good manners actually comes from the important notion of hospitality as embodying grace.  This isn't an outdated social norm, but a concept of making others feel comfortable, and understood as our own attempt to share what is most fully expressed in God's grace.  Even our understanding of the sinful nature of racism or sexism or other forms of prejudice comes down to a connection to hospitality:  we must see one another as individuals created in the image of God.  How we tarnish that image or let it shine is what the truth of the heart really comes down to; the rest is window dressing.  This is the bedrock of Christ's love and His Gospel, and it is the foundation of the good social norms we desire.  Let us consider this scene in our reading.  Who was the more gracious?  Whose hospitality is key to our rootedness in God's love?  Where do we fall on this scale of discernment in the image and love of Christ?    Where does forgiveness come into it?   What about recognition of our own need for grace?  Let us not forget that Jesus tells her, "Your faith has saved you.  Go in peace." 

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 Jesus was doing.  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 their 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 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."    My study bible says that this Pharisee was intrigued by Christ, as evidenced by his invitation, but he clearly doesn't have faith in Him, as shown by his reaction to Christ's mercy, and also by his lack even of what was common hospitality (as noted in Jesus' comments further down, verses 44-46).  The encounter with the sinful woman is "an icon of grace," a note reads, which is found only in the Church.  St. 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." 

"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."   Here is a question of what the Law allowed, and what Jesus does.  That anyone could forgive sins was beyond the bounds of the Law as understood by the Pharisees (see 5:21).  Yet Christ wasn't simply a man, but rather the very Lawgiver Himself.  St. Cyril of Alexandria comments, "Who could declare things that were above the Law, except the One who ordained the Law?"

This particular story in the Gospels centers on forgiveness.  We read of the power of God to forgive, the power of Christ as Son at work in the world.  The point of view of the Law, however, demands restitution of some sort for sin.  That this woman would simply be forgiven is not a sense in the Law (and that is beside the fact that only God can forgive sins).   The new covenant, however, would seem to indicate something new here, a different equation, and that equation includes love.  It's not simply about Jesus' love for others, God's love for us, in forgiveness.   But what we read about here is the love of this woman for Christ.  Her repentance is great, that is a given.  But the love she expresses is something tremendously great here, as told in the text.   It is an act of extravagance, not simply for the great value of the oil, but rather of the great love that is expressed by the woman.  Jesus frequently expresses the notion of sin as "debt," and this is in keeping with the Law.  In the prayer He has given us to our Father (Matthew 6:8-15), we pray that our debts may be forgiven, as we forgive our debtors (verse 12).  But forgiveness, in Jesus' teaching, seems to set up an entirely different sort of equation -- or rather, it sets the equation on a different footing.  God's love is extravagant, gracious, merciful, overflowing for us.  The love of this woman as expressed to Jesus is also extravagant and overflowing.  We go one step beyond debt and payment here, and into the Kingdom of heaven where love becomes the currency of all things (see 1 John 4:8). This woman knows what that Kingdom is, and she travels in this love as she is expressing it here.  Jesus tells everyone present that she knows what it is to be forgiven, and she has taken up the dwelling place in the Kingdom that she is able to live in this life.  Her tears teach us about repentance, but also they  express the great joy of forgiveness at the same time, the participation in God's love.  Jesus says, "To whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."   And there is not only a great truth which we can observe in human relationships, but rather again a description of a state of being, a place where we know and live within a kind of currency of love, where love may be like the air we breathe.  It teaches us about a new kind of exchange that goes beyond the Law.  There is an important understanding here about debt:  to forgive is to let go or to release.   Love allows us to release debt, to let it go.   We may consider this reading to be a great teaching on the power of prayer, the expression of love within the grace of God and our capacity for living the life of the Kingdom in the world.  To pray for others is to express love, and to pray to Christ whom we love may also be an extravagant outpouring of love.   There are times, we may find, when all we can do is express love for someone through prayer, even when we can't have dialogue or contact in person.   In this communion, love becomes language, communication.  She doesn't say a word, but her every gesture is an act of love.  This passage is read in the Orthodox Church on the days commemorating holy nuns.  As in Saturday's reading, it teaches us a great deal about holiness, even the lives of the saints.  So many were those who were former sinners, even notoriously so, but within the love of God they lived lives of holiness and participation in the Kingdom.  And like Saturday's reading, in which Jesus taught that "wisdom is justified by her children," so we may also see in the actions and love of this woman, whom Jesus tells, "Your faith has saved you.  Go in peace."

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 free 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 the 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 the 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

In yesterday's reading, two disciples of John the Baptist were sent to Jesus, asking, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"  John is in prison.  Just at that time, Jesus 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." Then He began to defend John to the crowd.  "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?"  Jesus said John was a prophet and more than a prophet.  "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." Luke tells us that 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. Jesus compared them to children playing an ancient game, in which one group either played or mourned, and the other was to respond by either dancing or weeping.  He said the "men of this generation" 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. Here's an interesting scene:  Jesus is dining in the home of a Pharisee, an individual who is open to Jesus' ministry although as a group the Pharisees oppose Him.  And then a woman, who is known as a sinner, came to the home, and with this great act of love and apparent contrition, came to Christ.  Perhaps we can read into her anointing of His feet her recognition that He is the Christ, the Anointed One.  We note that she also "anoints" with her tears.  Her actions in some way resemble baptism -- what she seeks, to be reborn:  washing with water, anointing with 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 free 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 the 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 the 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."   My study bible notes, "This is a great encouragement to all who feel so much of their lives has been given over to sin.  In the mercy of God, a sinful past is not a hopeless liability.  Forgiveness comes to those who truly love Christ."  It adds, "The Scriptures speak of many things that contribute to our salvation:  a believing spouse (1 Cor. 7:14-16), prayer (James 5:15) and baptism (1 Pet. 3:21).  Here Jesus names a basic one:  personal faith." 

With Jesus, love, faith, and forgiveness all go hand in hand.  We have to remember our basic relationship with Him and what is characterized in it.  I find that when I go to God with whatever problem I have, whatever shortcoming I find or think I'm guilty of, there's always a serene sort of acceptance with the resolution that I simply try and start over and try to do better.  Christ is like the parent who simply wants His child to truly love Him, to learn and to grow.  It seems that God's love extends to us in ways in which it is clear that what is desired is always what is best for us.  Here, there's no doubt from the story that she truly is a sinner, whatever that may mean has happened in her life.  She accepts it as well.  But her love and faith is great; her total confidence given over to Christ in tears and the beautiful fragrant oil so powerfully and vividly described by Luke.   But there is a real exchange of love here.  This is not a formulaic answer to problems, a kind of exchange of payments or penance.  There is something more, greater and deeper.  An exchange of love like this is true koinonia, communion in the Greek.  In communion with Him, we exchange our sinfulness in love, we start over in faith.  There's an assumption here, with her tears, that she wishes to change her life, as she wipes her own past clean with the tears that bathe Christ's feet.  What she does for Him in her act of love is also what she wishes for herself, and this she receives and so much more:  His blessing, His peace, His forgiveness.  In the relationship of love and faith in Christ, a depth of communion, we make an exchange that is quite above and beyond any legalistic framework that we understand on our worldly terms of daily life, and instead receive an abundance in a kind of sacramental love.  We give up our pasts, our understanding, our lives, in exchange for what He offers to us instead, walking with Him in His Way.  And that's what we have to remember that God's love is all about.  It's a relationship of the depth of communion.  Christ takes everything we can offer Him to His heart, and in exchange gives us new life.  This happens through love and faith.  Our brokenness, our imperfection is what He asks us to offer; our tears, our prayers, our faith and trust, and our love.