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| “The Korean Martyrs,” artist and date are unknown. |
Biographical Information about St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon
Biographical Information about St. Paul Chong Ha-sang
Biographical Information about St. Paul Chong Ha-sang
Commentary:
Reading 1: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
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Commentary on 1 Cor 15:1-11
St Paul delivers an apologia (a defense) on the basic tenet of the faith: Christ died for our sins and following his death there was a physical resurrection. He goes on to offer proofs that Jesus was raised from the dead by giving what amounts to a chronology of his post-resurrection appearances, in which he includes his own vision on the road to Damascus.
St. Paul concludes this selection as he professes his own witness, marking himself as least among the Apostles (because of his earlier role as emissary of the Sanhedrin, persecutor of the Church). It is supposed that this chapter is directed at refuting those who believe there was no physical resurrection.
CCC: 1 Cor 15:3-5 186; 1 Cor 15:3-4 639, 652; 1 Cor 15:3 519, 601, 619, 624; 1 Cor 15:4-8 642; 1 Cor 15:4 627; 1 Cor 15:5 552, 641; 1 Cor 15:7-8 857; 1 Cor 15:8 659; 1 Cor 15:9 752
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:1b-2, 16ab-17, 28
R. (1) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Commentary on Ps 118:1b-2, 16ab-17, 28
Psalm 118 is a song of thanksgiving emphasizing the fidelity of God. These strophes focus on God’s infinite mercy and his saving grace. All are invited to give thanks for his saving hand.
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Gospel: Luke 7:36-50
Commentary on Lk 7:36-50
This passage from St. Luke’s Gospel gives us an excellent example of the relation between forgiveness and love. Jesus uses the radical actions of the sinful woman to demonstrate the extreme pardon the Lord will bestow on those who love him. He contrasts this with the lukewarm acts of love demonstrated by the Pharisee who should expect even less in return.
In the story, 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:
Who do we suppose ourselves to be in the scene painted by St. Luke’s words about the supper in the house of Simon the Pharisee? I ask you to pause for a moment and picture this scene. Where are you among those in attendance?
Are you taking the place of the “sinful woman who stands behind Jesus bathing his feet with tears and wiping and anointing them? Do you accept this role; the role of a slave? It was, after all a slave who performed these actions in biblical times. If you were in her place, you would have completely humbled yourself before the Lord. In doing so, you would have received his forgiveness. But – what of the others? What do Simon and his friends think of you, prominent members of the community in which you live? You may have humbled yourself in front of Jesus, but you humiliated yourself in front of the others. Can you accept this role?
Are you taking the role of Simon who clearly respects Jesus as Rabbi? – Teacher he calls him. He has invited Jesus into his home and in fact thrown a banquet in his honor. In Simon’s place you might even think you have taken a more positive stand for Jesus than the woman. That banquet cost money – the food and wine; and not just for Jesus but the others in attendance as well. Yet, what do you receive from Jesus for your effort? Thanks for the meal; appreciation for the hospitality and reception? No, Jesus uses you in contrast with the woman. He points your failures – you failed to offer him comfort, you failed to give him a kiss in welcome. He reminds you that you are a sinner as well with his story. Do you want this role?
Do you see yourself as one of the guests; invited to sit with this teacher, break bread with him? Are you seated next to him or further down the table? Ah, being one of the guests is a safe place to be. To sit at the table and feel embarrassment for Jesus who has this sinful woman fawning over him. To sit and feel the discomfort of Simon who for all his generosity receives only criticism from Jesus. Did you come out of curiosity; to see what you could get out of it? Did you come for the free meal? Did you come because you wanted to be associated with Jesus?
The meal at the house of Simon becomes for us an analogy of our life of faith seen in microcosm. When we consider the dynamic of the banquet we discover that there is no completely safe place to be unless we do not come at all, in which case we have missed everything including salvation itself. Today we ask for the grace of Christ. We pray that we can be humble without being humiliated and inviting without being pompous or condescending and that we can be grateful guests at the Lord’s Table, participating in the meal he offers and invited to the heavenly banquet that follows.
Pax
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