Memorial of Saint Andrew Kim Taegŏn, priest and martyr and Saint Paul Chŏng Hasang, martyr, and their companions, martyrs
Imagine for a moment that you are Simon, the Pharisee in today’s gospel (Luke 7: 36-50) who invited Jesus to his house for dinner. You have made sure that a fine meal is cooked and everything is prepared for your guests, including Jesus. Then, as Jesus is reclined at the table (the manner in which meals were eaten), a woman from the city who is known to be sinful (perhaps a prostitute) enters uninvited and proceeds to bathe Jesus’ feet with her tears, wipe them with her hair and kiss them. She then pours oil on his feet, anointing them.
You, Simon, are watching this and probably most annoyed by this interruption and seemingly dramatic display of humility, and are thinking about Jesus, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner”(vs. 39)! Jesus apparently does know; however, and uses this opportunity to teach about love and forgiveness. Jesus is not annoyed by this woman; rather, you might say that he scolds Simon for his self-righteousness, pointing out that whereas Simon did not greet Jesus in the customary manner of a host, washing his feet, greeting him with a kiss or anointing his head with oil, this “sinful woman” has shown great love and respect to Jesus. “Her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” (vs. 47)
The “sinful woman” sought out Jesus and his forgiveness; her love is the consequence of her forgiveness. Simon, in his self-righteousness and lack of humility, did not seek forgiveness and, therefore, had little love to show. Isn’t it true that being forgiven frees us to love more generously and abundantly? When we deny our own sinfulness and hang on to our own self-righteousness it is harder to love others, to love God freely. We’re holding back then, it seems, because we’re trying to keep up the illusion that we have it all together all on our own; that we don't really need God and God’s forgiveness. But when we are honest with ourselves, and thus with God, we are free to accept God’s forgiveness. And the result is an overwhelming love that we can’t help but share.
If we imagine now for a moment that we are the “sinful woman” in the gospel, we might think about what it is like to be on the margins of society, a woman (Judaism at the time and place of Jesus cautioned against speaking with women in public) and a known sinner. Surely she knew she was “not worthy” to approach Jesus, but it seems she knew she was in need of the forgiveness and healing that Jesus offered, and her faith gave her the courage to humbly pour out her love to him. Jesus did not turn her away; rather he responded with love, “Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (vs. 48, 50)
In today’s first reading (1 Corinthians 15: 1-11), Paul models humility as well. In his letter to the people of Corinth, he refers to himself as “the least of the Apostles…”(vs. 9) because of his sinful past as one who persecuted the church prior to his conversion. Now giving glory to God for what he has become, he declares, “But by the grace of God, I am what I am….”(vs. 10a)
Today, like Paul and the “sinful woman” may we humbly turn to Jesus in our sinfulness, and receiving his forgiveness, share in the abundance of love poured out freely.
-Eileen Miller