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From Forgiven to Forgiving: A Call to Intimacy and Outreach
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
Luke 7:36-50
A Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the Pharisee’s house. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, 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. 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 kind of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” He replied, “Speak, teacher.” “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the loan, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 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 my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. 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.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” But those at table with him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Grace Prayed For
This scripture passage prompts us to pray for the grace to Humble our hearts to fully receive the depth of God’s forgiveness, recognizing our own need for His mercy.
Reflection
In a world often quick to judge and condemn, this passage from Luke offers a radical vision of love and forgiveness. It’s a deeply personal encounter, yet one that holds profound implications for how we live our lives and engage with the world around us. For me, this scripture isn’t just a story; it’s a mirror reflecting the very heart of God’s desire to forgive me, to forgive each of us, and to call us into a deeper intimacy with Him that compels us to share this transformative love.
Imagine yourself in Simon’s house. Perhaps you, like me, have at times been more like Simon—observing, judging, and missing the profound movement of grace unfolding before your eyes. We might be quick to identify with the “respectable” host, perhaps even subtly proud of our own righteousness. But then, there is this woman. Her name isn’t given, her past isn’t detailed, yet her actions speak volumes. She enters Simon’s home, not as an invited guest, but drawn by an irresistible magnetism towards Jesus. Her tears, her hair, her kisses, the precious ointment—these aren’t just gestures; they are a complete outpouring of her being, a testament to a heart overwhelmed by need and hope. This is a powerful image of what it means to allow God to act freely in our lives. She held nothing back. In that moment, her vulnerable, lavish love created a space for Jesus to act, to forgive, and to affirm her in a way that defied all societal expectations.
Jesus, in His infinite wisdom and tender mercy, doesn’t shame the woman. He doesn’t dismiss her past. Instead, He sees beyond her “many sins” to the “great love” that springs from a deep awareness of being forgiven. He doesn’t just forgive her; He
affirms her, publicly, in the presence of those who would condemn her. This is how Jesus has loved me, and how Jesus has loved you. He sees past our imperfections, our failures, our moments of doubt, and calls forth the love within us that longs to respond to His grace. He invites us into a relationship where our past doesn’t define us, but where His mercy transforms us. This is the heart of intimacy with our Trinitarian God—a God who actively seeks to forgive, to restore, and to love us into wholeness. The very act of the Father sending the Son, and the Son sending us, is an act of boundless love and a desire for connection.
This encounter isn’t just about individual forgiveness; it’s a profound lesson in mission. Jesus reveals that true love springs from a recognition of the depth of forgiveness received. “But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little”. If we truly grasp the immensity of God’s mercy in our own lives, how can we
not share it? Our intimacy with Jesus, deepened by this understanding of His boundless forgiveness, becomes the fuel for our outward mission. The peace that Jesus gives us, the “fullness of life, harmony with God, with sisters and brothers, and with creation”, is precisely what we are called to proclaim. As He sent His disciples, so He sends us , to offer “mercy and love of the Father” to every person, without exception. This woman, once an outcast, became an evangelist simply by loving much. We too, by embracing the vastness of our own forgiveness and the depth of God’s love, are called to be instruments of that same mercy in every encounter.
Announcing Jesus in Our Lives
Extend Acts of Kindness and Service: Perform acts of charity and service, flowing from a heart filled with God’s love, demonstrating mercy in tangible ways.
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Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post