Gospel Reading for: September 19, 2024
Daily Gospel Reflection: Love’s Extravagance: When Gratitude Overflows
A Sinful Woman Forgiven
In this passage, Jesus is invited to dine at the house of a Pharisee named Simon. While they are at the table, a woman known in the city as a sinner approaches Jesus with an alabaster jar of ointment. She stands behind him, weeping, and begins to wash his feet with her tears, wipe them with her hair, kiss them, and anoint them with the ointment.
Seeing this, Simon thinks to himself that if Jesus were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. Sensing Simon’s thoughts, Jesus tells him a parable about a creditor who forgives the debts of two people—one owing much and the other little. Jesus asks which debtor will love the creditor more. Simon answers, “The one for whom he canceled the greater debt.”
Jesus then contrasts Simon’s lack of hospitality with the woman’s acts of love. He explains that her many sins have been forgiven because she has shown great love, whereas those forgiven little love little. Jesus tells the woman, “Your sins are forgiven,” and “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Those at the table question who Jesus is, that he even forgives sins.
Luke 7:36-50 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition