"Her many sins have been forgiven"
Readings for Sunday: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/061216.cfm
2 Sam 12:
7-10.13
Gal 2:
16a, 19b-20
Lk 7:
36-50
“When God’s love meets human sin the fruit is
always mercy.” That reassuring statement is reflected throughout our sacred
scriptures both Old and New Testaments.
We hear it in the story of the Jewish people and their on again/off
again response to the Covenant God established with them on Mt. Sinai through
Moses. We hear its echo in the preaching
of the prophets, the exile and return of the nation of Israel, the song of the
Psalms and clearly fleshed out in the way in which Jesus treated all people and
his particular focus on those who lived isolated and shunned from ancient
society – the sick and identified “sinners.” When God’s love meets human sin
the fruit is always mercy.
Our first
reading from Samuel and the Gospel passage from Luke are startling examples of
this truth. We might be tempted to ask,
who sinned more grievously – David or the unidentified sinful woman in the
Gospel? By contrast we know what David’s
sin involved – jealousy, unrestrained lust, murder, deception, and lying. If you read the story of David and Bathsheeba
(2 Sam 11) you’ll see it all there and that is the reference made in the first
reading by Nathan the prophet: “You have
cut down Uriah . . . with the sword; you took his wife as your own . . . and
have taken the wife of Uriah to be your wife.” To understate we might say
that David’s sin was a deep violation of the sacred commandments prohibiting
adultery and murder. This was no little
white lie.
David realizes
his great offense and acknowledges his guilt: “I have sinned against the Lord.” He accepts responsibility, does
not minimize or rationalize or point a finger at others or blame anyone else
except himself. Nathan responds: “The Lord on his part has forgiven your sin:
you shall not die.”
Now you
may initially have the same surface reaction I hear in me – “that’s it?” Just that easy? After deliberate deception and killing, which
David did not do himself but arranged the battle to appear like an accident, (2
Sam 11: 14-17) he’s forgiven by a simple statement on his part? How do we know he means it? In the same way
that God offers forgiveness to anyone of us – by reading our hearts, our true
repentance and true intention.
Which
takes us to the Gospel story in the home of a Pharisee named Simon. Jesus
accepts the invitation of a Pharisee, likely well known and wealthy, to
dinner. According to middle eastern
hospitality, only your equal could be invited to dine with you so evidently Simon
viewed Jesus somewhat on an equal par.
However, it is clear that it stopped there. No signs of hospitality are extended to Jesus
by his guest – washing of feet, drying them, washing of hands offered before
the meal. What does Simon really think
of Jesus and what are his real intentions for the dinner invitation?
We are
struck by the appearance of an uninvited guest; certainly no equal with the
Pharisee or others gathered with him – a sinful
woman in the city. Who she is and what exactly was her sin we are never
told; she remains nameless unlike the clarity of David’s sin. She had some sort
of reputation that was known to the Pharisee and likely others with him.
Nonetheless what unfolds is deeply moving.
In a scene
that might be taken for some sort of sensual advance towards Jesus we quickly
learn it is a deep expression of gratitude; a pouring out of love in response
to some great event in her life which directly involved our Lord. “She 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.” These are tears of gratitude, reverence,
respect and deep connection.
The
self-righteous criticism of the Pharisee is not surprising which brings Jesus
to a short example about great debt forgiven.
He uses this to compare between Simon and the woman. Like the short example of a large debt
forgiven, Jesus points to the woman: “Her
many sins have been forgiven because she has shown great love.” Abundant mercy has resulted in abundant love
and appreciation.
The
Pharisee’s presumed self-perfection produces little love on his part due to his
rare or perhaps never ask for forgiveness.
For us it
is indeed a reminder of what part we play in all this. I believe the woman remains anonymous so that
we might see ourselves as her. As
frequently seen the Gospel stories remain unfinished. We don’t know what became of the woman, what
her sins were, and what precipitated Jesus extension of forgiveness in some
previous encounter with her. The woman
caught in adultery? It doesn’t matter
really. What does matter is the abundant
mercy extended by God, through Jesus, to all sinners who repent.
When we
come before the Lord, recognizing our own sin, hopefully not so grievous as
David or frequent as the woman, the response on God’s part is consistently the
same – mercy not condemnation. David’s
life was changed due to forgiveness, the woman’s life clearly was turning
around to the good, and so our response must be the same. Jesus did not say to the woman caught in
adultery: “That’s all right. Just next
time be careful. Don’t get caught. No problem.” Sounds a bit like our culture
today doesn’t it?
He clearly
stated: “Go and do not sin again.” When we hear the words of the priest in the
sacrament of Reconciliation: “I absolve you from your sins . . .” We hear Jesus
say to the woman: “Your sins are forgiven.”
Forgiveness
extended by God to ourselves always should spur gratitude and openness to
conversion of heart and life. The great
outpouring of appropriate affection for Jesus was a sign that scholars mostly
conclude the woman had already experienced forgiveness. Moved by her love and deep gratefulness Jesus
points out that her new life is a result of being forgiven. Her experience of
love was so powerful that it changed the direction of her life.
Our celebration
of the Eucharist is the greatest way that we, sinners though we are, say “thank
you.” The way we live our lives is our
way of showing love and abundant mercy to others as it is extended to us. As Jesus becomes food for us we are
strengthened and healed of sin. Only
divine love can bring such mercy to us.
“When God’s
love meets human sin the fruit is always mercy.” Let us go and do the
same.
O God, strength of those who hope in you,
graciously hear out pleas,
and, since without you mortal frailty can do nothing,
grant us always the help of your grace,
that in following your commands
we may please you by our resolve and our deeds.
(Roman Missal: Collect of Mass)
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