Sam 12:7-10.13
Psalm 31
Gal 2:16.19-21
Luke 7:36:8:3
Being deeply in debt is uncomfortable. Being forgiven a debt is an extraordinary
experience. What would it be like to
open an envelope from the credit card company to find that the bill had been
wiped clean? To be told you owe nothing more?
The word tremendous comes to mind. Wouldn’t it be great to receive a letter from the bank informing you that the mortgage had been forgiven—and you were being given $10 grand for
remodeling? What would it be like to
learn that an anonymous benefactor had freely
chosen to pay your debt? Were we to then
meet that benefactor most of us would be speechless in the face of such
generosity. That is what Jesus did for
us. Jesus freely chose to pay our debt, to
atone for sin and to save us—not from bankruptcy court—but from death.
Unfortunately, even after we come to know the one who had
freely chosen to pay the debt, even after we learn how that debt was repaid, most
of us behave more like the Pharisee than “the woman known in town to be a
sinner.” No big deal. Gratitude is not
always our response to the gift or to the giver.
In its commentary on the first reading The Jewish Study Bible notes, “David has been ungrateful to the
Lord who gave him everything.” That is quite
an understatement. The Lord had given
David everything and then some. But—as
it is for many—everything wasn’t enough.
He, like us, wanted even more. So
David went as far as to arrange for Uriah the Hittite to be sent to the front lines
where he was certain to be killed, so that David could marry Uriah’s wife,
Bathsheba, with whom he had already committed adultery resulting in a very
inconvenient pregnancy. David has only
one redeeming feature in this sordid chapter.
As the commentary notes, “David, without arguing, frankly and
immediately admits his guilt.” He did not make excuses. He did not say, “I was only just . . ." David did something that is very difficult
for all of us. He said, “I have
sinned.” He admitted his guilt. He confessed.
The Gospel is something of a contrast.
While it is difficult, if not impossible for us to admit, “I
have sinned,” we are usually enthusiastic participants in the sport of pointing
out the sins of others, oftentimes to anyone who will listen. Simon, the host of the party, and his guests were
certainly happy to do so. “She is a
sinner. . . .” We are all sinners. We are all sinners loved by God. But unlike David we are reluctant, if not
unwilling, to admit our guilt.
How many rationalize not taking advantage of the sacrament of
confession, or criticize Catholics, by saying "I don't need a priest. I confess directly to God."? Perhaps. The rationalizations for not
confessing sins are sometimes creative. In
the end they all boil down to one thing, unwillingness to admit to ourselves
that we are sinners. We are unwilling to
say it aloud.
In our relationships with others we find it difficult to apologize without
trying to excuse ourselves saying something such as “I’m sorry BUT . . .”, a line that is generally
followed by inventive rationalizations and self-justifications. Indeed, we oftentimes begin a comment that is
going to hurt another individual with “I’m sorry, BUT. . . ."
The woman in the Gospel recognized the gift. She recognized the tremendous gift of
forgiveness. And she acknowledged the
giver. Just like us, if we were to meet
the benefactor who had freely chosen to pay off our mortgage, the woman was
speechless. She could only weep. Did she weep from joy? Did she weep from relief? Perhaps she wept from sorrow when she
realized how undeserving she was.
The responsorial psalm is explanatory:
“I acknowledged my sin to you
My guilt I covered not.
I said ‘I confess my faults to the Lord,’
And you took away the guilt of my sin.
That is not an easy thing to do. If we
are able to do so, however, there is joy.
“Happy the one whose fault is taken away,
Whose sin is covered.
Happy the one to whom the Lord imputes not guilt In whose spirit
there is no guile."
In his letter to the Galatians Paul wrote, “I will not treat
God’s gracious gift as pointless.” He
tells us what we are called to do. To
treat God’s gracious gift not as pointless, not as something that we deserve, not
as something to which we are entitled, not as something for which we need not give
thanks, but. . . . as the tremendous gift that it is. The mortgage has been paid off. The bankers
can’t touch us anymore.
Despite the bystanders muttering, “Who is this that he even
forgives sins?” we can only stand in
silent gratitude as Jesus says to us,
“Your sins are forgiven. . .
Go now in peace.”
A free day tomorrow. For the first time in about 35 days I don't have to go anywhere to celebrate Mass. I love doing it but the luxury of not having to hit the road by 9 AM or later is going to be appreciated. As there is coffee, cereal, and a few other staples in the room I won't have to get out of my long-sleeved t-shirt and ratty basketball shorts. Nor will I leave the room, especially dressed like that. After a certain age a man should never be seen in public in shorts. I've passed that age.
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