382. Twenty-fourth Thursday of Ordinary Time

Meditations no. 344 (unofficial computer-aided translation)

Repentance attracts God’s mercy.

Jesus continues his journey through Galilee. Now he stops in a small town, where news of his arrival spreads quickly. One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house, and took his place at table.

Jesus enters just as the meal is about to begin. The guests take off their sandals and recline. Following oriental custom, the doors of the house remain open, and curious onlookers throng about outside. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was sitting at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

A gasp of surprise and indignation arises from the guests. How does a notorious sinner dare to enter a Pharisee’s home? Simon feels ashamed, and is upset that Jesus does nothing to stop her. Not willing to reproach her openly, Simon said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”

Our Lord, who plumbs the depths of hearts, knows what is in the minds of the people around, and takes advantage of their thoughts to impart to them a lesson. Our Father wrote: Jesus speaks because he perceives their need for doctrine to correct their twisted notions. So he said: Simon, habeo tibi aliquid dicere; Simon, I have to tell you something.

As the dialogue with Simon unfolds, the woman weeps at Jesus’ feet. Perhaps she has heard that the Master forgave the sins of a paralytic in Capharnaum, while freeing him from his illness. Perhaps our Lord’s look of love has shaken her to the depths of her soul. Her gesture, a proof of true faith and contrition, will serve as a channel for God’s mercy. Our Lord looks, not at her many sins, but at her great love, her tears of repentance and contrition.

The Gospel passage continues: “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

The effect of contrition is interior peace, serene joy. What peace these considerations bring me! What peace we should have, knowing that our Lord always forgives us, that he loves us so much, that he knows our human weaknesses so well, that he knows the poor clay we are made of!

Our Lord expects us to treat him affectionately, despite our sins.

From the moment Jesus enters Simon’s home, events unfold quickly. Our Lord, by his words to the sinful woman, shows the breadth of his mercy. The dinner guests are bewildered and astonished. Perhaps that is why they fail to notice the host’s neglect of traditional hospitality.

But Jesus has noticed Simon’s forgetfulness. His words express complaint, a mild reproach for Simon’s lukewarm reception. He tells a short parable; then 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 wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.”

Do you see, my children? There’s a hint of sadness in Christ’s voice: I entered your house, you gave me no water for my feet… Our Lord, who when it’s a matter of suffering for the salvation of souls, sets no limits to his suffering, now misses the signs of affection, courtesy and considerateness at Simon’s house, and reproaches him for it. Does Jesus not have any reason to reproach you and me?

It’s a good moment to examine our conscience: When a stranger looks on us indifferently, it doesn’t matter much; but when someone we love treats us coldly, how their behaviour grieves us! Aren’t your moments of negligence and haste, your carelessness and brusqueness going to grieve Jesus?

Simon’s discourtesy is offset by this poor woman, who is moved by love. By God’s infinite goodness, her sincere tears and deeds of repentance obtain the remission of her sins. Jesus, who has still not ended his dialogue with Simon, finishes his lesson: Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little. When faced with our own frailties, we can take to heart our Father’s words: Jesus has forgiven me my multitude of sins - what generosity! - despite my ingratitude. And if this woman was forgiven much because she loved much, then you, my child, and I, since we too have been forgiven much, are left with a great debt of love. Jesus, grant us a love that knows no limits, even to the point of heroism! With your grace, Lord, even if it were to cost me my life, I won’t abandon you.

Loving care in our life of piety and in the way we treat our Lord in the Blessed Eucharist.

Jesus is grieved over Simon’s negligence. It’s true that Simon had done a good thing and opened his home to our Lord and offered him a banquet, perhaps a splendid one. But he overlooked the customary details of courtesy: the welcoming embrace and the warm greeting; the water for the traveller’s tired, dusty feet; the perfumed ointment for refreshment.

Jesus does not want to dwell on the material side of these acts of courtesy, because he wants to impress upon his host something more important: these small, material services are a proof of real refinement and good manners. On account of the contrite love shown in her expressions of courtesy, Christ forgives that woman’s sins. Our Father wrote with regard to divine worship:

Christ will overlook your weaknesses, on account of your loving care for his oratories. Our Lord is as defenceless as a child there, a prisoner of Love. And Love is repaid with love. Always treat him well for me!

Holy things should be treated in a holy way, and all the items employed in divine worship are holy, for they are dedicated to the service of God. Don’t get used to things, even after many years: you should always try to maintain an attitude of awe and attentive respect for what is set aside especially for our Lord.

Jesus looked for this kind of treatment from Simon, and he looks for it from us as well. Serve Christ with such care and attention that the very service you render him is already contemplation. In my homeland, someone who overlooks details of courteous service is said “go around without contemplation”.

He looks for such expressions of our love, especially in our life of piety. He, who has wanted to remain always at our side in the tabernacle, expects such well-mannered kindness from us: Have you seen how mothers go overboard in their loving care for their children? I like to say that when we truly love God, we are living in a holy way almost without realizing it.

We can almost say that resolutions are no longer needed: my mother didn’t make any resolutions to treat me well, but what attentive, loving care she showed! If you truly love God, you’ll gladly go to any lengths to serve him: whether you feel like it or not, come rain or come shine, in every circumstance, you’ll joyfully seek ways to serve more and better.

We will feel the need to seek out Jesus at every moment, to find him and show our love for him in everything we do: Are you united to him in your work? Do you seek him out when passing by a tabernacle? Do you discover him in your brothers or sisters, whether you’re being called to renunciation, or are receiving good news?

Love is repaid with love. I accompany him when I come to visit him, when I sing my love to him from afar and when I pass close by… I can’t understand those who are indifferent. I think popular piety is right to depict the monstrance with a host of angels around it, hiding their faces with their wings because they consider themselves unworthy to be in his presence. And I ask the Blessed Virgin, his Mother and mine, to help me receive him and treat him as she did: with purity, with humility, with love.