Word to the Wise
Thursday, September 18, 2025 - 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, "You faith has saved you; go in peace." [Luke]
SEPTEMBER 18, [St. Juan Macias, O.P.]
The scene in today's gospel passage from the Gospel According to Luke is an amazing drama. The cultural norms of Jesus' time would have excluded the woman, who is the "star" in the drama, from being at table with the men. She performed the services of a slave. Simon the Pharisee failed to accord to Jesus the fundamental hospitality of the time. It is the faith of the woman that brings about the forgiveness that motivated her to approach Jesus. She did not have to do what she did in order to be forgiven. It was her faith, as Jesus notes, that saved her. Her actions were those of gratitude because her life had been sinful.
Can we ask ourselves what it feels like to be forgiven? The Sacrament of Reconciliation can certainly provide relief from the feeling of guilt. But, are we grateful for the gift of forgiveness and do we share that gift by forgiving others as well? We pray the Lord's prayer thousands of times in our life and beg God to "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us..." How do we show gratitude for God's forgiveness if we fail to forgive others? Perhaps we have had the experience of saying, "I'm sorry that I hurt you. I'll try to make up for it!" If so, we have the example of the woman today to encourage us to continue. AMEN
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