Lk 7:36—8:3
(or 7:36-50)
36A Pharisee invited [Jesus] to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. 37Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, 38she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. 39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “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.”
40Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41“Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. 42Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” 43Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. 46You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. 47So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” 48He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
1Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve 2and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.
JESUS LOVES SINNERS: At home and in our schools, we are taught to avoid associating with criminals, people of disrepute, drug addicts, prostitutes, and the like. We are also taught not to befriend strangers or people with strange religious beliefs for we, with our own weaknesses, might be swayed by their teachings and beliefs and become one like them.
The Gospel story starts with Jesus going to a dinner at a Pharisee’s home. The mere fact that Jesus accepts the invitation signals that he is open to encounter someone who differs from his beliefs and approach to God. We know Pharisees are experts of the Law. They take care not to violate any of its prescriptions. They believe that in doing so, they please God. And God will save them.
The reader may ask what makes the Pharisee invite Jesus. What is his motivation? We know that people like them are always arguing with Jesus, objecting to what he says and does. The reader may also wonder why Jesus accepts an invitation from a person who is not a friend at all and reclines to eat. Strange! To recline at table is an act of friendship, if not intimacy. Jesus and his disciples recline at table during the Last Supper.
The evangelist then suddenly brings an unexpected character into the scene. This guest is described as a woman, well-known in the town as a sinner. And then this uninvited guest—if you call her guest—right away goes to Jesus, without any hesitation, without fear, to do her thing. She brings perfumed oil, stands behind Jesus at his feet, weeping, wiping his tear-drenched feet with her hair, kissing, and putting the perfume. Why is she doing this, without minding what Jesus would say and how the unwilling host would react? Is this the way to behave when you have a nice experience with Jesus?
The Pharisee keeps his critical distance from Jesus. He convinces himself with his own disbelief, “If this man were a prophet…” He will never follow the line of Jesus. Because of this, the storyteller focuses on the Pharisee who is also a sinner in the mind of Jesus. Jesus tells a parable. By that parable, he considers both of them sinners, but he acknowledges that the woman has done better. The woman might have been a worse sinner than the Pharisee, but she has shown more love to Jesus. The woman sinner is just expressing her thanksgiving in a very intimate manner for Jesus’ love and forgiveness.
To end the story, Jesus says to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven… Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (vv 48-50). Jesus loves sinners who approach him in faith and devotion. He will readily extend his forgiveness, peace, and salvation.