Go in Peace

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 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 ointment. When the Pharisee invited 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 dept, 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 has anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But to the one whom little is forgiven, loves little." He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." the others at table said to themselves, "Who is this that even forgives sins?" But he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Consideration: This reading gives us great hope. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We may think that our sins are so great that they are beyond forgiveness. Jesus tells us that if we love, show compassion and forgiveness to others, seek his mercy with humility and sincerity that we shall be forgiven. He is calling us; we need only to respond; "Lord, have mercy on me a sinner." Amen.