11th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

2 Sam 12:7-10, 13; Gal 2:16, 19-21; Lk 7:36-8:3

When we hear the word “sinner”, we immediately think of an arrogant neighbor, an unfaithful spouse, a corrupt government official, a prostitute, or a shrewd businessman. Yet, when Jesus says “I have come to call sinners”, he is referring not only to the persons we mentioned but to us. We are the people who have fallen short of God’s expectations. Each one of us is a sinner, a violator, or an offender. And so, every time we hear the word “sinner”, we might as well remember ourselves and our failures. If we hear the word “sinner” and start to think only of other people, we are guilty of the sin of self-righteousness.

Simon the Pharisee is a perfect example of a self-righteous person. In his heart, he condemns the woman who is expressing to Jesus a significant amount of care. “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him – that she is a sinner” (Lk 7:39). Simon considers the woman immoral and shameful, but he fails to see his own shortcomings. He invited Jesus to his house but he has not provided him the usual hospitality for a guest. Jesus has to remind him this: “I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment” (Lk 7:44-46). For Jesus, the intruding woman, not Simon, merits praise. She deserves not condemnation but commendation for her warm expression of gratitude.

Jesus offers a simple story to explain the woman’s extraordinary behavior. “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more? Simon answered, ‘I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt’” (Lk 7:41-43). The point of the parable is clear: The woman, who knows very well the gravity of her sins, throws herself on Jesus’ mercy and receives forgiveness.

The first reading gives us an example of a great sinner who responded well to God’s compassion and forgiveness. David committed adultery with Bathsheba and plotted the murder of her husband, Uriah. When the prophet Nathan confronts David of his great sin, he confesses to it without any argument, rationalization or excuses. His humble recognition of the gravity of his offense opens for David the way to conversion and absolution.

David’s confession goes like this: “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Sam 12:13). David knows that his sins of adultery and murder were ultimately acts of rebellion against God. Of course, David has caused great harm to Bathsheba and Uriah, but the one he offended most in sinning was God. Remarkably, however, the prophet Nathan easily extends God’s forgiveness to David, implying the unconditional nature of the divine absolution. The Bible testifies that forgiveness allowed David to become not only a great king but also a true servant of Yahweh.

Today’s liturgy should move us to recognize humbly our sins and confess them to God through the sacrament of reconciliation. After receiving absolution for our sins, let us be grateful and begin to share the joy of forgiveness with others. May we not turn back to our old, sinful ways and begin to serve the Lord with gladness!

One rainy afternoon a mother was driving along one of the main streets of town. Suddenly, her son Matthew spoke up from his relaxed position in the rear seat. “Mom, I’m thinking of something.” This announcement usually meant he had been pondering some fact for a while and was now ready to expound all that his seven-year-old mind had discovered. His mother was eager to hear. “What are you thinking?” she asked. “The rain is like sin and the windscreen wipers are like God, wiping our sins away.” “That’s really good, Matthew”, she replied. Then my curiosity broke in. How far would this little boy take this revelation? So she asked, “Do you notice how the rain keeps on coming? What does that tell you?” Matthew didn’t hesitate one moment with his answer: “We keep on sinning, and God just keeps on forgiving us.”

(The story is told by Tommy Lane)