Word to the Wise
Thursday, September 17, 2015 - Thursday in the 24th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Tim 4:12-16 and Luke 7:36-50]"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." The others at table said to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" But he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." [Luke]
Considerable excitement is being generated by Pope Francis' upcoming visit to the U.S.A.. The media are in a frenzy, especially pointing out areas of conflict and negative publicity such as the percentage of American Catholics who disagree with official Church teaching on such topics as birth control, female priests, clergy sex abuse, communion for divorced/remarried Catholics. Somehow the person of Pope Francis seems to transcend all this to reach the ordinary person, Catholic or not, with a simple message of the Lord's mercy for the sinner. His recent announcement in regard to absolution by priests for the sin of abortion captured a lot of attention even though priests in this country have had that power for years. [There were some places, however, where that was not the case. So, the decree took care of those.]
I think anyone inclined to think Pope Francis is too lenient should read today's gospel passage from the Gospel of Luke. I think it is a truly powerful account of the Lord's mercy that cut through cultural and political taboos to reach the central issue of the bond between love and mercy. The woman crashed the party and washed the Lord's feet with her tears and wiped them away with her hair before anointing them with oil. This would have been ordinary hospitality, but the Pharisee who invited Jesus had failed to provide that. Those in the church who are punitively oriented in regard to "sinners" should take note of what Jesus does here, and all of us should give thanks for the example that Pope Francis is offering. He is simply following the Lord's example. Shouldn't we? AMEN
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