Infinite Forgiveness
Sep. 19: Thursday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
It seems there is some confusion about the principle characters in our Gospel today. Some believed that Simon the Pharisee is also Simon the Leper, who was discussed in Matthew and Mark.1 They also tell the story of a woman anointing Jesus.
But their version takes place in Bethany, during Holy Week. Luke's story more likely takes place in Galilee, based on the preceding sections. Also, Simon was the most common name for Jewish boys at the time. Two of the Apostles were Simons!2
As for the sinful woman, Pope St. Gregory the Great believed she was Mary Magdalene. He came up with this theory in 591, which, while a long time ago for us, is also far into Christian history. But it's also possible Luke, who was writing at a time when many of the Apostles (including Mary Magdalene, "apostle to the apostles") were still alive. Luke may just have wanted to hide her identity from scandal.
So, are these the same two people, or are they four, even five separate people? Honestly, at this point, we won't know until we get to heaven. None of it affects the importance of the lesson being conveyed in the readings.
Reading 1
1 Cor 15:1-11
I am reminding you, brothers and sisters, of the Gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand. Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. After that he appeared to James, then to all the Apostles.
Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me. For I am the least of the Apostles, not fit to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective. Indeed, I have toiled harder than all of them; not I, however, but the grace of God that is with me. Therefore, whether it be I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
This is one of the oldest versions of the creed we're aware of. Sometimes we might wonder what's changed in the Church over the millennia, and obviously, a lot has. But the core of our faith, the most important part, has not—Jesus died, really died, and rose from the dead. He fulfilled the scriptures.
He did this to forgive our sins, even the worst of them, even the people who executed Him and persecuted His followers. If Paul, the worst of those persecutors, can become the greatest Apostle, there's hope for us, too.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 118:1b-2, 16ab-17, 28
R. (1) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
“The right hand of the LORD is exalted;
the right hand of the Lord has struck with power.”
I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the LORD.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
You are my God, and I give thanks to you;
O my God, I extol you.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
God has the right to exact justice. It's what would be "fair." But He chose not to punish us; instead, He chose to sacrifice His only son to atone for our sins.
Alleluia
Mt 11:28
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In context, this verse is referring to those who are burdened by the law as enforced by Pharisees. Paired with today’s readings, though, it seems to allude to laboring under sin, and the heavy burden of guilt.
Gospel
Lk 7:36-50
A certain 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 days’ 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; hence, 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.”
Jesus doesn't want us to sin, because sin separates us from God. His life's goal, His death's goal, was to re-unite us with God.
He accomplished that with the sinful woman, and with St. Paul. He probably even accomplished it with Simon the Pharisee, who saw his inhospitality contrasted with the penitent woman.
He can reconcile us, as well, if we allow His grace in our lives.
Violating the One Simon Steve Limit.