Có điều gì đã thúc đẩy một tình yêu trọng đại, và có thể lấn át tất cả các tình yêu khác? Chắc chắn đó là lòng biết ơn vô bờ vô bến! Không ai đã gặp Chúa Giêsu mà có thể đối xử với Ngài một cách thờ ơ. Họ có thể là bị Chúa thu hút hay có thể bị Chúa xua đuổi.
What fuels the love that surpasses all other loves? Unbounding gratitude for sure! No one who met Jesus could do so with indifference. They were either attracted to him or repelled by him. Why did a Pharisee invite Jesus to his house for dinner and then treat him discourteously by neglecting to give him the customary signs of respect and honor? [This account has some similarities to the account of Simon the leper in Matthew 26:6-13 and Mark 14:3, as well as the account in John 12:1-8.] Simon was very likely a collector of celebrities. He patronized Jesus because of his popularity with the crowds. Why did he criticize Jesus' compassionate treatment of a woman of ill repute - most likely a prostitute? The Pharisees shunned the company of public sinners and in so doing they neglected to give them the help they needed to find healing and wholeness.
Why did a woman with a bad reputation approach Jesus and anoint him with her tears and costly perfume at the risk of ridicule and abuse by others? The woman's action was motivated by one thing, and one thing only, namely, her love for Jesus - she loved greatly out of gratitude for the kindness and forgiveness she had received from Jesus. She did something a Jewish woman would never do in public. She loosened her hair and anointed Jesus with her tears. It was customary for a woman on her wedding day to bind her hair. For a married woman to loosen her hair in public was a sign of grave immodesty. This woman was oblivious to all around her, except for Jesus.
She also did something which only love can do. She took the most precious thing she had and spent it all on Jesus. Her love was not calculated but extravagant. In a spirit of humility and heart-felt repentance, she lavishly served the one who showed her the mercy and kindness of God. Jesus, in his customary fashion, never lost the opportunity to draw a lesson from such a deed.
Why did Jesus put the parable of the two debtors before his learned host, a religious Jew who was well versed in the Jewish Scriptures and who would have rigorously followed the letter of the Law of Moses? This parable is similar to the parable of the unforgiving official (see Matthew 18:23-35) in which the man who was forgiven much showed himself merciless and unforgiving. Jesus makes clear that great love springs from a heart forgiven and cleansed. Peter the Apostle tells us that "love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8). It was love that motivated the Father in heaven to send his only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus, to offer up his life on the cross as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. The woman's lavish expression of love was an offering of gratitude for the great forgiveness, kindness, and mercy Jesus had shown to her.
The stark contrast of attitudes between Simon and the woman of ill-repute demonstrates how we can either accept or reject God's mercy and forgiveness. Simon, who regarded himself as an upright Pharisee, did not feel any particular need for pardon and mercy. His self-sufficiency kept him from acknowledging his need for God's grace - his gracious gift of favor, help, and mercy. Are you grateful for God's mercy and pardon?
He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:48–50
These loving words from Jesus were spoken to a sinful woman who showed up unannounced at a dinner Jesus was having at the house of a Pharisee. The Pharisee looked down upon her in judgment, but she didn’t care. In sorrow for her sins, she anointed Jesus’ feet and humbled herself before Him, bathing His feet with her tears and drying them with her hair.
The conversation ends with Jesus looking at her and telling her “Your sins are forgiven.” Note the reaction of those who were at the table. We are given an insight into their interior thoughts. They said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
Those who have been born and raised within the faith have always understood that God forgives. We were taught this from an early age, learned much about it in preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and have heard this message throughout our lives in one form or another. But imagine never hearing about or experiencing the forgiveness of God throughout your life, and then suddenly one day you do. Imagine what these people must have been experiencing as they encountered the forgiveness of sins for the first time in the Person of Jesus as He forgave this sinful woman. They may have been a bit confused by this, but, perhaps more than anything else, they would have experienced a holy awe and amazement at what God had done. They saw this sinful woman come in, they sensed the judgment and demeaning attitude of the Pharisees, they saw her express sorrow and humiliation, and then they saw Jesus forgive her.
Are you amazed at the gift of the forgiveness of your sins and the sins of others? Or do you take forgiveness for granted? The wonder and awe that the people manifested at the forgiveness of the sins of this woman should help us to examine our own attitude toward God’s mercy and forgiveness. We need to continually foster within ourselves the same amazement at God’s mercy that these people had. We must work to never take forgiveness for granted or to see it as just one more normal part of life. Rather, we must see it as extraordinary, ever new, ever glorious and forever awe inspiring.
Reflect, today, upon the awe-inspired words of these first followers of Jesus: “Who is this who even forgives sins?” As you do, let God fill you with the deepest gratitude for the forgiveness He has offered you. Renew your appreciation for this unmerited gift from God and allow that gratitude to become the source of your ongoing amazement at the mercy of God.
My forgiving Lord, Your mercy and compassion for the sinner is truly awe-inspiring. Thank You for loving me and all Your followers with a love so deep. Please fill my heart with a holy awe at Your incredible mercy. May I always be amazed at Your forgiveness and always be filled with the deepest gratitude as I experience it in my life. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I thank you for the gift of your mercy. You have forgiven my many sins by sending your Son to redeem me and call me to repentance. May I be reconciled with you when I fall and restored to life with you.
1. Jesus, The One Who Can Forgive Sins: All four Gospels present Jesus as the one who can forgive sins. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record the healing of the paralytic, a miracle that shows that Jesus has the power to forgive sins (Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26). In John, John the Baptist bears witness that Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:26). The author of the Letter to the Hebrews argues that Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross takes away our sin: “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22). Unlike the high priest who entered the earthly sanctuary with the blood of animals, which cannot take away sin, Christ our High Priest entered the heavenly sanctuary with his own blood, which does take away sin. We, then, have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all (Hebrews 10:10). In the power of the Spirit, Jesus offered himself without blemish to God. He was perfected human nature through his sacrifice and communicates that perfection to us who believe in him (see Vanhoye, A Different Priest, 286). Christ’s blood purifies our conscience and enables us to serve God (Hebrews 9:14).
2. In the House of Simon the Pharisee: In the Gospel, Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus into his home, but refused to believe in him. He felt no need to treat Jesus as an honored guest; he was blind to his sinfulness in the presence of his Lord. The woman, on the other hand, sought out Jesus not to satisfy her curiosity, but to be freed from her many sins. She expressed her faith in Jesus and love for him by washing and anointing his feet. Simon mistakenly thought that he was justified by his works and meticulous fulfillment of the Old Law. But his works were devoid of faith and love. The woman, however, understood that her righteousness comes not from herself but from God. Only works of love informed by faith in Jesus and united to him can justify us.
3. The Forgiveness of Sins: The Gospel message is one of forgiveness, salvation in Christ, mercy, and love. It was the Gospel that Paul received and handed on to the many churches he served. Christ, he writes, died for our sins and was raised on the third day. Through Christ, we receive the grace of God that purifies our sins and introduces us into the family of God. Paul understood that Christ’s sacrifice had taken away his sins. Because of this, he enjoyed the freedom of the children of God – a freedom that enabled him to serve Christ in his brothers and sisters. We, too, have been freed from our sins through the Sacrament of Baptism and can be freed from the sins we commit after Baptism through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Through Baptism, we die with Christ and rise with him to new life. Through Reconciliation, we place ourselves before the throne of God’s mercy and are restored to God’s grace and reconciled with the Church. “In this sacrament, the sinner, placing himself before the merciful judgment of God, anticipates in a certain way the judgment to which he will be subjected at the end of his earthly life. For it is now, in this life, that we are offered the choice between life and death, and it is only by the road of conversion that we can enter the Kingdom, from which one is excluded by grave sin. In converting to Christ through penance and faith, the sinner passes from death to life and ‘does not come into judgment’” (CCC, 1470).
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you sit at the right hand of the Father on the throne of mercy. I approach this throne with confidence today, knowing that you will welcome me. I come before you today with a humble and contrite heart and ask for the strength to overcome the temptations to sin.
Qua bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, Chúng ta hãy thử tưởng tượng nếu như chúng ta đang có một món nợ khổng lồ và phải trả món nợ đó ngay trong lúc này, nhưng chúng ta lại không có tiền để thanh toán món này. Trong lúc đang hoang mang, lo sợ bối rối, mất ăn mất ngũ để tìm cách kiếm tiền để trả nợ… thế rồi bỗng nhiên có người nào đó đến với chúng ta và tự nhiên đem cho chúng ta một số tiền to lớn đủ để trang trải cáí món nợ khổng lồ này… Chúng ta sẽ có cảm tưởng như thế nào trong lúc đó? Chúng ta sẽ có phản ứng gì với sự rộng lướng và quảng đại của Người khác đến với chúng ta?
"Lạy Chúa Giêsu, ân sủng của Chúa đã là đủ đối với chúng con. Xin Chúa khoả lấp trái tim chúng con với tình yêu và lòng biết ơn đối với lòng thương xót mà Chúa đã chỉ cho chúng con thấy và xin Chúa ban cho chúng con niềm vui và sự tự do để yêu thương và phục vụ người khác với lòng nhân ái và sự kính trọng."
Imagine that we have such a huge debt to pay strict creditors, then suddenly Jesus comes to our rescue and gives us the funds to cover this bill. How would we feel at that very moment? What would our reaction be to our Lord who generously swoops in to lend his support and to save us from a sure prison sentence?
Maybe in this instance, we can begin to empathize with the sinful woman who washed Jesus' feet with her hair. She must have been so grateful to be freed from the harsh judgment of society. Here was a holy man who booked on her with love and complete understanding. He accepted her for who she is. And this is what inspires her to convert and become a better person. We've all had our share of falling short and not really living up to what is expected. But God doesn't shoo us away? In fact, He embraces us more and gently nudges us to keep doing our best. There is no prerequisite to earning His love. It will always be there whether we remain on the righteous path or if we unintentionally stray elsewhere. May we always appreciate such wonderful and mysterious love.
Opening Prayer: Lord, as I read these words today, let me be like the woman in this story: sorry for my sins and consumed with love for you.
A Sinful Woman: We can assume that Simon’s party was held in a gracious home. Suddenly, who should appear but this sinful woman? She was probably very humbly dressed and was certainly not someone that Simon, a Pharisee, would welcome to his home. When she fell at the feet of Jesus, crying over him, letting her hair down, anointing him with oil in front of the assembled guests, she had awkwardly interrupted Simon’s dinner for the celebrity preacher, Jesus, scandalizing Simon and the other guests. In fact, Simon thought to himself, “Jesus must not be a prophet after all since he didn’t even realize how sinful this woman was, and in fact allowed her to touch him.” How far Simon was from comprehending the beauty and holiness of this “sinful woman” who had repented and was worshiping her Lord. How often do we fail to recognize moments of grace among people in our own lives?
1. Ostensible Openness and Spiritual Pride: Simon the Pharisee has an apparent openness to the Lord. He invites him to dine. He observes him. And he engages him in cordial dialogue. Nonetheless, we see that Simon interiorly judges the Lord, dismisses him as a farce, and ultimately rejects him. The Pharisaical attitude consists primarily of trying to force God into our preconceived notions of how he should operate. The Pharisees had the correct view of moral precepts (both Simon and Jesus agree that this woman is a sinner). But they fail in recognizing their sins, which are rooted in pride. This pride manifested itself in that unspoken attitude that God must adjust himself to our way of being and acting.
Lời khuyên của Thánh Phaolô gửi Timôthê trong bài đọc hôm nay cũng có thể áp dụng cho chúng ta để giúp chúng ta tiến đến sự thánh thiện. Những lời của Thánh Phaolô dạy bảo rất đáng được lưu ý tới, mặc dù những điều đó không phải là một mô hình đơn giản cho tất cả chúng ta hành động trong lời nói cũng như việc làm trong đức tin và sự khiết tịnh trong cuộc sống của chúng ta. Mặt khác, những gì Chúa Giêsu nói với người phụ nữ tội lỗi rất nhân hậu, và rộng lượng. Ngài nói với cô ấy, "đức tin ngươi đã cứu ngươi. Hãy đi bình an." (Lk. 7:50)
Trong cuộc sống của chúng ta, có bao giời chúng ta đã xúc động một cách thật sâu sắc sau khi được thấm nhuần tất cả các bài học, bài giảng và trong các cuộc tĩnh tâm? Chúng ta có nghĩ rằng: chúng ta quyết định quay vế và tìm lại tình yêu đích thực của chúng ta là Đức Giêsu? Chúng ta đã có cảm thấy được rằng đức tin của chúng ta nơi Chúa Giêsu đã được thấm nhầm sâu sắc và chúng ta đã được bình an trong tâm hồn? Để rồi chúng ta có thể trải nghiệm niềm tin nơi Chúa Giêsu một cách sâu sắc hơn trong lời cầu nguyện, qua lời nói và bí tích chúng ta được lãnh nhận để chúng ta sẽ sống trong sự an bình với chính mình và với người khác.
St Paul's advice to Timothy can very well apply to us – for our holiness. It is worth heeding Paul's words, though it is not an easy model to all believers in our way of acting and speaking, in our faith and purity of life. On the other hand, what Jesus told the woman who was noted for being a sinner is very consoling. He said to her, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."
The gesture of this woman after that incident was far beyond what the Pharisees did or did not do. Having been an outcast for being regarded as a sinner, her encounter with Jesus changed her life. As her way of showing repentance and gratitude, she bathed Jesus' feet with her tears, dried them with her hair (her pride) and anointed them with perfume (her vanity). Indeed, it was total conversion for her.
In our life, after all the lessons, sermons and retreats were we deeply touched that we turned around and found our true love who is Jesus? Have we felt that our faith in Jesus deepened and that we are at peace? Let us then try to deeply experience Jesus in prayer, through his word and sacraments so that we will live in peace with ourselves and with others.
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