tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736427810720155529.post8346855492193058149..comments2023-08-09T07:48:53.962-04:00Comments on Bear Witness to the Light: Her Many Sins Have Been Forgiven; Hence, She Has Shown Great Love.Fr. John L. Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16167510362871783781noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736427810720155529.post-10486944931100952502010-09-17T04:49:17.171-04:002010-09-17T04:49:17.171-04:00In the past, I have always read this incident as s...In the past, I have always read this incident as showing how the sinful woman repents in tears and is subsequently forgiven. But now, reading Jesus' own explanation, it seems the tears are an expression of love in response to forgiveness already received. Perhaps both the Pharisee and the sinful woman have already been forgiven, but they do not know it. The Jews often seemed to worry about how they could know whether their sins were forgiven or not, and even we do not receive a voice from heaven after absolution. But I think we do respond with an upwelling of love, and that gives us confidence. The Pharisee's sins had been forgiven, perhaps just by the act of inviting Our Lord in, but he hardly noticed any upwelling of love for Jesus in himself - certainly not enough to welcome Him properly. Maybe if the Pharisee had been more focused on love he could have received Jesus properly - as we should do at Mass when we move from confessing our sins to receiving Christ in the Eucharist.<br /><br />Perhaps too the woman was not just expressing her love in her tears - but penance for the Pharisee. The tables have been turned on him!Sarah in the tenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13680566205364331756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736427810720155529.post-39001031472707164022010-09-16T08:27:35.526-04:002010-09-16T08:27:35.526-04:00Saint Peter Chrysologus (+ 450), Doctor of the Chu...Saint Peter Chrysologus (+ 450), Doctor of the Church, wrote a wonderful meditation on this gospel, which I will summarize: <br /><br />The reader might be surprised that Christ came to a dinner at a Pharisee's house. But He went there not to enjoy the meal, but to dispense Divine Mercy. <br /><br />Why does this woman run through the doors, past the servants, into the banquet hall, and turn the house of joy to a place of lamentation? <br /><br />She did not come uninvited; she was under command. He who ordered her to be absolved is the One who called her to be brought to himself. She mixed the drink with tears, and to the full delight of God, she struck music from her heart. <br /><br />The moral of the story: the gospel constantly reminds us, it's never too late to give, to receive, Love.Fr. John L. Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16167510362871783781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736427810720155529.post-89656703975144648602010-09-16T08:08:22.589-04:002010-09-16T08:08:22.589-04:00An immoral past, a deathbed confession...the gospe...An immoral past, a deathbed confession...the gospel constantly reminds us, it's never too late to give, to receive, Love.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com