Catechism Links[1]
CCC 1441-1442: only God forgives sin
CCC 1987-1995: justification
CCC 2517-1519: purification of heart
CCC 1481, 1736, 2538: David and Nathan
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| “Christ at Simon the Pharisee” by Pieter Pauwel Rubens, 1618-20 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: 2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13
Commentary on 2 Sm 12:7-10, 13
Nathan, the prophet, comes to King David who has, in the previous chapter, arranged to have the husband of Bathsheba killed in battle so he could marry her. In this passage, the Lord, speaking through Nathan, reminds David of all the blessings he has bestowed upon him. The prophet then recalls David’s sin, asking why he had done so, given all the blessings God had poured out upon him. Faced with this charge, we hear David’s simple admission and repentance. In response, the prophet tells David: “The Lord on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die.” David is forgiven, but the consequences of his sin remain.
CCC: 2 Sm 12:7-15 1736
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 7, 11
R. (cf. 5c) Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.
Commentary on Ps 32:1-2, 5, 7, 11
This psalm, while generally considered a thanksgiving song, is more aptly classified as being in the Wisdom Tradition. Keeping to the theme of confession and repentance, Psalm 32 proclaims our gratitude to God who alone can forgive our sins.
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Reading II: Galatians 2:16, 19-21
Commentary on Gal 2:16, 19-21
In this selection of St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians, the Apostle contrasts actions that are in accord with the precepts of Mosaic Law against the interior life of faith, that justifies us before God in Christ. In saying that a “…person is not justified by works of the law,“ St. Paul concludes that, as stated in Psalm 143:2, “…before you (God) no living being can be just.“ The difference the Apostle pointed to here says that, just because a person acts in accordance with the Law, it does not mean their faith and actions toward others places them in grace. In this instance, St. Paul explains that interior faith is more important that outward acts of piety. In these few verses, the Apostle summarizes many of the theological points made in Romans and Galatians.
CCC: Gal 2:20 478, 616, 1380, 2666
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Gospel: Luke 7:36—8:3
Commentary on Lk 7:36—8:3
In St. Luke’s story about the "Pardoning of the Sinful Woman," we are shown contrasting attitudes and their associated rewards. The Pharisee clearly does not believe he is a sinful person, and looks with disdain on the woman who humbly washes the Lord’s feet with her tears and dries them with her hair. The Lord tells the story of the two debtors to illustrate his point, that the magnitude of sin forgiven stimulates a corresponding level of gratitude and love in return.
In this longer form, the story continues giving us valuable insights into the Lord’s entourage, which includes several women whom the Lord has cured. These include Mary Magdalene, who was with Jesus and his mother through the remainder of the Lord’s ministry on earth. We also see the support (presumably financial) given by the families of these women of faith.
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Or
Shorter Form: Luke 7:36-50
Commentary on Lk 7:36-50
In the shorter form of St. Luke’s story about the "Pardoning of the Sinful Woman," the strong moral point is made about the depth of the love of God and its relation to all peoples, for none are free of sin. The Pharisee clearly does not believe he is a sinful person, and looks with disdain on the woman who humbly washes the Lord’s feet with her tears and dries them with her hair. The Lord tells the story of the two debtors to illustrate his point that the magnitude of sin forgiven stimulates a corresponding level of gratitude and love in return.
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Homily:
As we follow the on-going sagas unfolding in the United States that speak of the erosion of moral standards, it is easy for us to become disillusioned, depressed and accept defeat. For us as Catholics, accepting defeat is not an option. We are called to strive for the moral standards that are the precepts of our faith. We can start with the scripture passages we have heard proclaimed. They follow very logically upon the theme of love and forgiveness embodied in the heart of our Savior’s mission.
In the first reading from the Second Book of Samuel, we heard the Prophet Nathan come to King David. The story that was read followed the account of how King David fell into sin. Even as he was enjoying God’s aid in defending his kingdom, he saw a beautiful woman, Bathsheba, and he wanted her, even though she was married to one of the officers of his army. We know the story. He had an affair with the woman, and when she became pregnant and it was clear he was going to be found out, he ordered her husband, Uriah, to be sent into the deadliest part of the battle where he was killed. Then he took Bathsheba as his wife.
This sets up the passage we heard, as Nathan first recounts all of the blessings the Lord had showered on David, and then confronts him with his sin. For his part, David repents and asks for forgiveness, and God does not take vengeance on the King. But there will be consequences for his family. Serious sin always has consequences.
Next we listened to St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. In the passage proclaimed, St. Paul distilled the messages to the Galatians and the Romans, telling them that, it was not just piety and following the Law of Moses (which includes the Ten Commandments) that was necessary to please God, and to come into his grace. Rather, it is the interior love of God. It is that interior holiness that King David failed to demonstrate, and, as we see in the Gospel, the holiness Simon the Pharisee failed to exhibit with Jesus.
Now we come to the Gospel story about Jesus coming to the house of Simon, the prominent Pharisee, to dine with him and his guests. This would have been an occasion, with many of the important people of that part of Galilee being invited. Jesus had made a huge impression in that region. His miraculous cures made him wildly popular. We can almost envision the scene. All of the important religious leaders were coming in their best clothes. Simon would have been in his glory, with all the fuss being paid to this young Rabbi.
While all these people are milling about, jockeying for seats at the table, the party is crashed by an unlikely person. The young woman is not named in this Gospel. We only are told that she was “sinful.” She came up behind the Lord and began washing his feet with her tears and drying them with her hair. This was an act of abject humility. Her contrition for her sins would have been obvious to everyone. Somewhat indignant, Simon, who we are told thinks to himself that Jesus is dirtying himself by allowing her to touch him, mentally reprimands Jesus, who reacts, as he frequently does, by reading Simon’s reaction, not needing to hear his words.
The response to Simon and to us, since we could easily put ourselves in his place, is to point out each person’s need for contrition. Jesus does not choose to humiliate Simon; instead he uses the occasion to teach all of those present that the woman who is showing him such love and humility out of contrition is saved. They (and we), who have also sinned, may be left outside the gate at the end of things because of our pride.
The key lesson we take away from this wealth of scripture is that our calling as Christians is to use the love of Jesus as our model, and to recognize, when we fall short of that example, that we are in need of the Lord’s forgiveness. We all need to take a moment, as we go about our work, play, and school, to ask ourselves if we are setting ourselves up to be like Simon, or perhaps worse, like David, who experienced the consequences of sin. We are called to a holiness that exceeds what secular society calls good manners, and to accept the yoke of humility that is Jesus, who washed his own disciples’ feet the night before his passion.
What we should take away from our celebration today is a new determination to suppress our pride, and accept that each of us needs the love of Christ to save us. Recall the words Jesus addressed to the sinful woman: “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” We pray that those words will be spoken to us as well when we come before the Lord in our time.
Pax
[1] Catechism links are taken from the Homiletic Directory, Published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014
[3] The Picture used today is “Christ at Simon the Pharisee” by Pieter Pauwel Rubens, 1618-20
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