Who Is Most Grateful? – Read Lk 7:36-50
Contemplation
Jesus has been invited to the house of Simon, an important man, for dinner. We walk through the courtyards and smell the beautiful flowers as shiny tiles flash and crunch under our feet. Suddenly, as we sit down, a woman rushes up to Jesus and pours ointment over him, sobbing and drying his feet with her hair. Simon looks very unhappy – he knows this woman has a bad reputation – but Jesus doesn’t seem to care. “Some prophet he is! If he were a holy man he would know who she is!” Jesus looks thoughtful. “Simon, let me tell you something,” he says over the crying of the woman. “If one person has a big debt owing and another has a small debt and both are forgiven, which one will feel happier?” Simon is really confused. “The one with the big debt,” he says while munching an olive. “Well,” Jesus says, “Look what this woman has done – washed my feet, put sweet smelling ointment on me and looked after me since I came. You didn’t even give me water to wash my hands! The one who has been forgiven a lot, loves a lot.” He turns to the woman, still washing his feet. “Peace. Your sins have been forgiven!” She is overjoyed and leaves, singing. But the people around are really upset. “Who is this saying he can forgive sins! Only God can do that!”
Talk to Jesus, Simon, the woman (does she have a name?) and others.
Have I been forgiven a lot or a little?
Do I love a lot or a little?