We are sinners and Jesus longs
to forgive us, to mercy us if we will allow him. In this morning's
First Reading from the Second book of Samuel the prophet Nathan reminds King David of all his failings. David's
conscience is pierced, and he says to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan responds, “The Lord on his
part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die.” We only have to say we are
sorry, to let our hearts be broken open- perhaps even over and over again. The Lord
is attentive and waits to mercy us.
A woman sneaks into a banquet in today's Gospel; she is a apparently a notorious
sinner. Her anointing of Jesus' feet with costly ointment, bathing them with
her tears and then wiping them with her hair is a lavish, loving gesture.
And Jesus understands; Jesus gets it, he knows where she is coming from
and what she is seeking. And he forgives her. To his shocked Pharisee host, Jesus responds that "her many sins
have been forgiven because she has shown great love. But the one to
whom little is forgiven, loves little." As
Father Gabriel reminded us in this morning's homily, the love of God follows us
relentlessly, always ready to forgive us. And it is this love that matters
most. In a gloss on today's passage, Saint Gregory the Great will write,
"Those who love more can do more."
Photograph by Brother Brian.