Luke 7:36-50 NRSVue
36One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and when he went into the Pharisee’s house he reclined to dine. 37And a woman in the city who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair, kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. 39Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “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.” 40Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “speak.” 41“A certain moneylender had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” 43Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? 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. 45You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47Therefore, 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.” 48Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
“Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.”
Some thoughts on this scripture
Reflection
This is a story of extravagance and generosity. The ointment was expensive -
and so was the alabaster jar. The woman whom nobody wanted near the table or
the feast was extravagant in love. Somehow Jesus’ forgiving love had got
through to her and she responded as best she knew – giving something really
expensive - her way of giving all. Jesus saw beyond the sin and behind the
oil to the love. That would conquer all in the end.
Reflection
The jar of ointment was expensive, and highlights the generosity of the
unnamed woman who was a sinner. Somehow the compassion and forgiveness of
Jesus hit her so deeply that she poured out love for him as a response to her
relationship with him. In prayer we can sometimes think of God's care,
protection and forgiveness in our lives, and be grateful, with words or in
silence.
Reflection
The courtesy and polish of the Pharisee, Simon, kept up appearances; the polite invitation masked a dismissive judgement and left unchallenged the unwelcome woman. Jesus saw through the veneer, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” In the presence of Jesus, I can trust him to say what he needs to say to me, knowing that he will speak with love and will accompany me in finding life.
Reflection
Jesus is able to recognise what is present in Simon and in the woman. He sees the movement of grace in the “bad woman” and the stiff resistance of the “good man”. Here, before Jesus, I pray that I may notice in my life where God is already at work and have the grace to yield to what God wants to do next.