Daily Reflections
(C) Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time • Luke 7:36–8:3
Prostitutes appear a lot in the Gospels and in Jesus’ life. That thought may offend you – it certainly offended a lot of people in Jesus’ day, especially the Pharisees, teachers of the law and scribes, who didn’t like prostitutes very much at all. Indeed, it is very clear that Simon the Pharisee, whom we meet in today’s Gospel, was scandalized by Jesus consenting to be in the company of such a woman. We are privy to his inner thoughts: ‘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’ (v. 39). Bear in mind then today, if you will, that the entire Catholic world through the liturgy of the Word is taught how to love Jesus by a prostitute no less.
The contrast could not be more stark between a Pharisee and a prostitute, between respectability and scandal, between the righteous and the unrighteous. However, these judgements, which form part of the fabric of every culture, are merely external. There are those who are good and those who are bad; there are the sexually wanton and promiscuous and the morally upright and churchgoing. In our own day, as in Jesus’, we are judged by the company we keep. Jesus was remarkable in attracting to himself the very people despised and marginalized by the religious establishment of his day.
They were drawn to him and felt accepted, forgiven and embraced with friendship and love.
So is that the message of today’s reading from Luke? Well, it is for sure part of the message – rather than being repelled by sinners God’s mercy reaches out and touches and embraces them. Those who are holy attract the sinful because the truly holy convey God’s love, mercy and forgiveness, not harsh judgement and condemnation. There is, however, a depth of insight into today’s reading which can give us an even greater understanding of the mystery of God’s mercy. Towards the end of his life St John Vianney wanted God to show him his true state before him. However, when God answered him and in prayer he began to plumb this abyss, what he saw compelled him to beg the Lord to remove all memory of it.
Lord, you came to call sinners, not the righteous who have no need of the Physician. Help us to recognize our true need of your forgiveness.
2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13 • Psalm 31(32):1-2, 5, 7, 11
Galatians 2:16, 19-21 • Luke 7:36–8:3
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