Today's  Gospel begins with a Pharisee inviting Jesus to dinner. Unexpectedly a woman appears behind Jesus  and St Luke writes: “She was a sinful woman.” The woman had heard that Jesus was in the city and when she found out that He was at the home of the Pharisee, she immediately went to the house and entered. She brought with her an alabaster flask of ointment  and she stood beside Jesus at his feet, weeping. Then the woman began to bath Jesus’ feet with her tears,  wiping  His feet with her hair and anointing them with ointment. Simon, Jesus’ host, watched and listened to to Jesus' response to the woman " I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven — for she loved much " But as the Pharisee  was watching, he also was judging Jesus and  also judging the woman. Finally, Simon said to himself: “If this man truly is a prophet, surely he would recognize that the woman bathing His feet and touching Him is a sinner.” Most likely Simon’s disapproval was written all over his face.
Jesus looked at Simon and gave him the familiar scenario of the two debtors who owed money to a creditor: one five hundred days’ wages and the other fifty days’ wages. Neither creditor was able to repay the debt. When the creditor realized that neither one had the money to repay him, he generously forgave their debt. Imagine the shock the debtors must have experienced at the creditor’s generosity. They must have been overwhelmed with amazement and gratitude.
Jesus  then asked Simon: “Which one of these men will love him more?” Naturally Simon answered: “The one who owed the most money.” Did the Pharisee truly grasp the point Jesus was making? Or was he so entrenched in his own belief system that what Jesus said made no sense at all?
How we would react if this scene were re- enacted in our lives? Would we also be shocked by Jesus’ actions and words ? Would we comprehend the great gift Jesus gave to this woman? Would we criticize Jesus just as Simon did? Or would we be astonished by Jesus’ gentle loving and forgiving spirit, no matter how great the woman’s sin had been?
The good news for us is that when we are the sinner, Jesus will love and forgive us just as He lovingly forgave this woman. Do we believe and trust this reality? Let us come to Him and be forgiven!

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