Luke 7:36-50 (11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, June 12, 2016)

Gospel:

A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. Now 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, 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. When 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.” 

Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred day’s wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then 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. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven because she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” 

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.”


Gospel Trivia:

The gospel shows the contrasting attitude towards a sinner between Jesus and a Pharisee (considered at that time as a pious man of God).  The Pharisee shunned the sinner; Jesus empathized with her.

We should also note the following:

- Jesus was dining inside a Pharisee's house, as it is customary at that time for visiting teachers and persons of honor to be invited in a banquet.

- We know it is a banquet (and not just an ordinary meal) because Jesus was "reclined at table" -- usually on one of the couches which are formed U-shaped around the table.  In a regular meal, people just sat around the table.

- When a guest enters a banquet, the host (in this case, the Pharisee) would usually greet the guest with a kiss (on the hand for a teacher or on both cheeks for an equal), and with foot washing.  The Pharisee did none of these, and yet the sinner did.

- It is customary at that time for non-guests to enter and exit such an occasion, and the woman must have heard Jesus preaching and joined the group that accompanied Jesus.

The gospel also shows the contrasting attitude between the Pharisees and the woman.  The Pharisee was all show (as shown by preparing a banquet) and defined one's relationship with God based on how strictly one followed the laws of Moses.  

The woman, on the other hand, must have heard Jesus preach about God's love and forgiveness; and was relieved of her guilt.  Thus, her gratefulness is expressed overwhelmingly in washing and anointing Jesus' feet.  

(Incidentally, anointing with oil is usually done on one's head, and doing so on the feet shows extraordinary expense and gratitude on the part of the woman).

When faced with a sinner, are you like Jesus or like the Pharisee?

Reference:

- Nil Guillemette, SJ, Parables for Today (Makati: St. Paul Publications, 1987), pp. 138-141.