Homilies

11th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: MERCY, FORGIVENESS AND LOVE

READING THIS GOSPEL reminds me of a woman who was known in a town where I spent my high school for promiscuous relationships. But one day, she encountered a Charismatic community in the town, and there conversion happened. Her conversion to Christ was so radical that later she reflected on entering into religious life. Indeed, she ended up a monk and until now she remains in that monastery.

The gospel story is a celebration of God’s mercy and forgiveness to the sinner, and a celebration of love on the part of the sinner.

First, the gospel story began with the act of repentance on the part of the sinful woman. It says, “she began to bathe Jesus’ feet with her tears.” Tears, that is, true tears, are signs of remorse and repentance. If there is a person who has done wrong to us, and when they say sorry with “tears” in their eyes, we normally see it as a sign of repentance. The woman did not articulate her regrets for the sins committed, but her action spoke more loudly what was in her heart. Repentance usually happens when we have come to our senses; when there is an awareness of sinning; and when humility to accept our weaknesses happens. When we think of ourselves as super humans, and perfect beings, it would be difficult for us to humbly accept that we have sinned. The woman did something more. After bathing Jesus’ feet with tears, she kissed them and anointed them with an ointment. That can be interpreted as a resolve to undergo renewal in her life.

Second, the response of Jesus was one of mercy. The gospel reminds us once again the quality of the heart of God. God’s heart is full of mercy to the sinner. Why mercy? The state of the sinner is undoubtedly miserable. The sinner, upon sinning, has broken his relationship with God. In the case of the woman in the gospel, her relationship with the community is also broken as can be seen in the attitude of the Pharisee. Indeed, the sinner is in a miserable situation. Jesus feels mercy toward the sinful woman. In his mercy, he offers forgiveness to her. The meeting of repentance, on the part of the woman, and mercy, on the part of Jesus, has brought salvation to the woman. Jesus said two things to the woman, namely, a) “Your sins are forgiven!”, and b) “Your faith has saved you; go in peace!”

Third, in the parable told by Jesus to Simon (the Pharisee), there is an interplay between sin and love. As it suggests, the bigger the sin we have, the bigger our love for Christ would be after we receive his forgiveness. Human experiences tell us also the same. There are husbands who deceived their wives by having illicit affairs with other women. Once they realized their sins and are forgiven by their wives, they tend to more loving to their wives than before. But, of course, not all! There are other husbands who do not change, it’s because they have not honestly repented their faults.

This should be made clear. It is not correct to say that automatically the more we sin the more we love God. Or the bigger is the sin committed the bigger will our love be for him. These require a certain condition. These can only be true or can be felt if we have truly repented our sins, and have been forgiven by God. Like the woman mentioned in my introduction, she realized how she was a great sinner. But she also personally experienced the mercy and forgiveness of God. Now, she makes amends, she shows her great love for Christ by following him, and him alone.

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