Luke 7:36-50 36 One
of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's
house and reclined at the table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city,
who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the
Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and
standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her
tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed
them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him
saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet,
he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching
him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to
him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say
it, Teacher.”
41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed
five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could
not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon
answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he
said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward
the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you
gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and
wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I
came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not
anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with
ointment.47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are
forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves
little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are
forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say
among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives
sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved
you; go in peace.”
Luke 7:44 (CEB) Jesus turned to the woman and said to
Simon, “Do you see this woman?”
Often we have eyes that do not see. The story in today’s
reading calls us all to see people with whom we interact each day not as
stereotypes but as real people with needs, gifts, and great possibilities — for
that is the way God sees us all. The biblical message is that God — who came in
Jesus Christ — sees us, knows us, died for us, and cares for us. Our lives can
be made new when we respond to God’s redeeming love that we know in Jesus Christ.
Thought for today:
How do I see and treat people?
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