The gospel for Thursday of the 24th week in Ordinary Time is taken from Luke 7th, chapter 36 to the 50th verse. 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 in the city 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 the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, 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 500 days wages and the other owed 50. Since they were unable to repay the debt, Eve gave 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 anointed my feet with ointment.

So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, hence she has sown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven loves little. He said to her, your sins are forgiven. The others at table said to themselves, who is this who even forgives sins? But he said to the woman, your faith has saved you. Go in peace.

It’s fascinating and very important, I think, to understand the work of Jesus, to recognize how people responded to people who were sinners. It was not just that they were rejected, but even if you touched them, you would be considered unclean. How strange that the work of God in freeing us from sin would be held in such regard. That it was something to avoid, something to not face, something to run from. Please ponder these images in your heart. And when the music ends, I will close with a prayer.

Foreign closing prayer. Father, so often our sins make us feel that we’re unworthy that we are ashamed of who we are, wish we were better so you would love us more. Free us from that insane way of thinking. He came to us because we need forgiveness. And he offers it abundantly. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.