Today I ask to be merciful like Jesus.

 
Reading: Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:50.
 
Good morning, happy Thursday, and many blessings my dear family.
 
Today’s Gospel (Luke 7:36-50) begins with a Pharisee inviting Jesus to dinner. Jesus entered the Pharisee’s home and reclined at table. Then unexpectedly a woman appears behind Jesus. Luke writes: “She was a sinful woman.” The woman had heard that Jesus was in the city and when she found out that he was at the home of the Pharisee, she immediately went to the house and entered.

The woman had brought an alabaster flask of ointment. She stood behind Jesus at his feet, weeping. The woman began to bath Jesus’ feet with her tears. She then wiped his feet with her hair and anointed them with ointment. Simon, Jesus’ host, watched all of this. And as he was watching, he also was judging Jesus and judging the woman. Finally, Simon said to himself: “If this man truly is a prophet, surely he would recognize that the woman bathing his feet and touching him is a sinner.” And most likely Simon’s disapproval was written all over his face.

Jesus was well aware of what Simon was thinking. Jesus looked at Simon and gave him the familiar scenario of the two debtors who owed money to a creditor: one five hundred days’ wages and the other fifty days’ wages. Neither creditor was able to repay the debt. When the creditor realized that neither one had the money to repay him, he generously forgave their debt. Imagine the shock the debtors must have experienced at the creditor’s generosity. They must have been overwhelmed with amazement and gratitude.

This extravagant gesture by this woman is hard for us to understand. Yet it was her way of trying to say thanks for whatever she must have received from Jesus. Simon, on the other hand, not knowing the lovely interior movements of her heart, judges her by the external knowledge that he has of her. Jesus goes to great trouble to tell Simon the deeper meaning of her actions and how much he appreciates her response.
 
Have you ever been misjudged for something you did? It’s very hurtful. We can always ask God to help us not to judge others too quickly. It gives you an inner spirit of freedom when you are charitable in thought about others.
 
What would my reaction have been if I had been the Pharisee or one of the other guests? Would I too have been scandalized by the woman's behavior and by Jesus' reaction? Or I may choose to imagine myself as the woman herself, unable to control my gratitude. Or Jesus himself, who decides to accept this shocking behavior to help us understand God's mercy and his attitude to sinners. Today I ask to be merciful like Jesus.
 
Blessings,
 
Fr. Luis+