Word to the Wise
Thursday, September 20, 2018 - Thursday in the 24th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Cor 15:1-11 and Luke 7:36-50]THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018. ST. ANDREW KIM AND COMPANIONS, martyrs in Korea [1 Corinthians 15:1-11 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.” This scene from the Gospel According to Luke is, for me, one of the most moving in the New Testament. The woman who “crashes” the all male dinner and washes Jesus’ feet with her tears and dries them with her hair is a picture of love. The Pharisee focused on the reputation of the woman. Jesus focuses on her repentance and love. His reply to the Pharisee about gratitude for forgiveness is important to us. Based on my experience of 47 years as a confessor, I think for many people the Sacrament of Reconciliation becomes the sacrament of guilt relief and there is no need to show the same forgiveness or even be grateful for the forgiveness we have received. The gesture of the woman is a gesture of love, faith and gratitude. I might add that she showed great courage in “crashing” the dinner party. An experienced confessor I know tells penitents at the end of the sacrament, “Go! You are now a saint!” That is a challenge to us to be what we have just received: love and forgiveness. AMEN