Affirming the Dignity of Others and Ourselves, Lo

Today’s Gospel, Luke 7: 36-50, tells the story of Jesus accepting  Simon’s  invitation to dine with him. Simon is a Pharisee.  As Jesus reclines at table a woman enters.  She brought with her an alabaster flask of ointment, stands behind Jesus at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears and wipes them with her hair.  Simon is thinking something like this: “How can Jesus allow this woman to do this. She is a known sinner, has done things that are a disgrace to the community.  If Jesus is truly a prophet, he would know what kind of woman this person is.”  Jesus knows what Simon is thinking and tells the story of two persons who are in debt to their master and both are forgiven, one of a larger amount than the other. He asks Simon: Which one will love his master more? And, rightly, Simon says: “The one who was forgiven more.”  He then directs Simon’s gaze to the woman at Jesus’ feet and tells him that her many sins have been forgiven; hence she is showing me great love.  “She’s washed my feet; you did not do that when I entered.”  “She’s kissed my feet; you did not kiss me when I entered your house.”  “She’s anointed my feet; you did not anoint my head when I came into your house.” 

Wow! Jesus has just taught us several things: acceptance of everyone, the danger of being judgmental and how passing judgment on others blocks us from seeing God at work in them and seeing their goodness, the significance of expressing love, of being attentive to the needs of our guests and to welcoming gestures that communicate our openness to them, our affection for them, and our respect of their dignity as a human being. Jesus expected that of Simon and He expects that of us (by treating others respectfully, we are showing respect to Jesus).