11th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading I: 2Sm 12:7-10,13 II: Gal 2:16,19-21

³⁶ A Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at table.
³⁷ Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment,
³⁸ she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.
³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner."
⁴⁰ Jesus said to him in reply, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.
⁴¹ "Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days' wages and the other owed fifty.
⁴² Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?"
⁴³ Simon said in reply, "The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven." He said to him, "You have judged rightly."
⁴⁴ Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
⁴⁵ You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.
⁴⁶ You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment.
⁴⁷ So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little."
⁴⁸ He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
⁴⁹ The others at table said to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
⁵⁰ But he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

• The story parallels the anointing of Jesus by Mary Bethany after the raising of Lazarus (Mk 14: 3-9; Mt 26:6-13, Jn 12:1-8). It is likely that Luke reworks that story to emphasize on the forgiving love of God.
• (v. 36) recline at table: They were eating in the Greek style which people lounge on their side, with the feet pointing away from the table. Thus the woman can stand "behind him at his feet."
• (v. 37) who was a sinner: To contrast with the Pharisee, Luke introduces a woman (without a name), whose exact nature of her sin is not known, but it was sufficiently public. Later tradition often mistakenly identifies this woman with Mary Madgala. There is no such evidence in the text.
• (vv. 41-42) two debtors: the parable is straightforward. It serves as a point of reflection on the link between the concept of "forgiveness" as applied to debt and sin.
• (vv. 43-44) The parable also serves as an example of the attitude of the woman and of Simon the Pharisee toward Jesus. The "love" shown by this woman demonstrates how she must have been forgiven.
• (vv. 44-47) you did not give me: the phrase is repeated for each of the way Simon has failed in hospitality: water for cleansing, a kiss of greeting, oil for anointing. The woman's action shows her state of forgiveness; Simon's refusal indicates a lack of forgiveness.
• (vv. 47-48) sins have been forgiven: Luke uses a passive voice here to declare what has been done for her by God.
• (v. 50) faith has saved you: Here faith is linked with salvation, and implicitly with forgiveness.

Jesus is portrayed as friends of sinners, a constant theme in Luke. Accepting Jesus means the openness to accept God's plan of forgiveness.

1. How would you express your love for Jesus? For other people?

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A synthesis by the Vietnamese Christian Life (Dong Hanh) Community