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 of 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 but 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)
