Tears of Love

And one of the Pharisees desired him to eat with him. And he went into the house of the Pharisee, and sat down to meat. And behold a woman that was in the city, a sinner, when she knew that he sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment; And standing behind at his feet, she began to wash his feet, with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. And the Pharisee, who had invited him, seeing it, spoke within himself, saying: This man, if he were a prophet, would know surely who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, that she is a sinner. And Jesus answering, said to him: Simon, I have somewhat to say to thee. But he said: Master, say it.

A certain creditor had two debtors, the one who owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And whereas they had not wherewith to pay, he forgave them both. Which therefore of the two loveth him most? Simon answering, said: I suppose that he to whom he forgave most. And he said to him: Thou hast judged rightly. And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon: Dost thou see this woman? I entered into thy house, thou gavest me no water for my feet; but she with tears hath washed my feet, and with her hairs hath wiped them. Thou gavest me no kiss; but she, since she came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

My head with oil thou didst not anoint; but she with ointment hath anointed my feet. Wherefore I say to thee: Many sins are forgiven her, because she hath loved much. But to whom less is forgiven, he loveth less. And he said to her: Thy sins are forgiven thee. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves: Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman: Thy faith hath made thee safe, go in peace.
Luke 7:36-50 (Douay-Rheims)

Prayer

Dear Father how easy it is for me to understand this story because I too was one of those sinners who knelt at your feet and bathed them with my tears of sorrow. When you touch our hearts and we respond with deep repentance, it is this that makes the last words come alive. Nothing on earth dear Father can make it more clear to a sinner than the sorrow in their heart for the sins of their life, that of your forgiveness. How then can I tell others how great your forgiveness is, when Jesus said it best in this Gospel. A sinner will always be looked upon and judged by humanity for their misdeeds, but in your eyes dear Father we are not judged once forgiven, but made clean. Where you hold us in the palm of your hand and comfort us when the eyes of the world would rather point a finger and say the same as the Pharisees. For shame then, for it is in Jesus' teaching to forgive. Teach me to keep my heart open to forgive those who have hurt you, those who despise your word. May I forgive as freely as you have forgiven me. Amen

Monday of Holy Week

Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany,
where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served,
while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him.
Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil
made from genuine aromatic nard
and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair;
the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples,
and the one who would betray him, said,
"Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages
and given to the poor?"
He said this not because he cared about the poor
but because he was a thief and held the money bag
and used to steal the contributions.
So Jesus said, "Leave her alone.
Let her keep this for the day of my burial.
You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."

The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came,
not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus,
whom he had raised from the dead.
And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too,
because many of the Jews were turning away
and believing in Jesus because of him.
John 12:1-11

Prayer

Dear Father how often this scene of Mary annoiting your Son's feet with perfume reminds me that nothing is greater than the love of a repentant heart. I pray my tears are to you the same oil that annoited your feet long ago, but I also pray to keep you always with me. Amen