HOMILY FOR THE 11TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY
Last December, Pope Francis declared this Church year as the Year of Mercy. Today’s gospel is a beautiful reflection upon the mercy of God and what is called of us who call ourselves, disciples of Jesus. As we listened to the gospel today, we may have found ourselves identifying with two of the principle characters in the story, namely, Simon the Pharisee, or the sinful woman.
There are times I think we can all identify with Simon the Pharisee from today’s gospel. There is not a one of us here who has not criticized others. Often times, as human beings, the critical judgment we level on another person’s character or flaws generally is a judgment on our own character or flaws. In other words, those actions and flaws of others that we criticize are often a judgment about those same actions and behaviors in our own lives.
Repeatedly in all four gospels, Jesus addresses our human tendency to condemn others. Jesus tells the people in Matthew’s Gospel, “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”
We see this played out in everyday life. No matter what religion or political party, how many religious leaders or politicians have been found guilty of the very same behaviors or issues they preach against? This is reminiscent of the gospel story of the woman caught in adultery. Jesus tells those ready to stone the woman to death, “let the one among you who is without sin cast the first stone.” As you recall, everyone dropped their stones and silently walked away. I have often wondered how many of those men holding stones were guilty of the same sin as the woman they were ready to kill?
In today’s gospel account, Jesus challenges the behavior of Simon the Pharisee. Simon treats the woman, who was more than likely a prostitute, with a superior air of scorn and disgust. The woman, contrite to the point of being distraught, weeps upon the feet of Jesus. She then dries his feet with her hair, then, anoints his feet with perfumed ointment. Jesus challenges Simon, “I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven because she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” Jesus makes it very clear to us that we will be judged and forgiven by God in the same manner we judge and forgive others. God will hold us accountable using the same measure by which we judge and condemn others. Everytime we pray the Our Father, do we not petition God to forgive us our sins in the same manner we forgive those who sin against us? Pope Francis has declared this Church year, “The Year of Mercy.” If we are to be disciples of Jesus, we are to be merciful as God is merciful.
On the other hand, we might find ourselves identifying with the sinful woman in this story. At one time or another in our lives, most of us have committed a sin that, even though it has been forgiven, has left us with a tremendous amount of guilt and regret. We might even think of this sin as unforgiveable. In his tremendous gesture of compassion, love and mercy given to the woman Jesus tells us that in God’s eye there is no such thing as an unforgiveable sin.
Look at the behavior of King David in the first reading. King David uses his power, and his privilege as King to commit adultery with a married woman. From his rooftop, which overlooked many other rooftops, he sees her bathing, and desiring her, orders his servants to bring her to him. Though she is married to one of his soldiers, he, nonetheless, forces himself upon her. In doing so, he commits the sin of adultery. As if this was not bad in itself, when the woman finds herself pregnant with King David’s child, King David plots and then has the husband of the woman murdered. By most human standards, David commits two unforgiveable sins, adultery and murder. How could God ever forgive David the things he had done? When David fully sees the horror of his actions, like the woman in the gospel, he falls to his knees in guilt and sorrow. While he must atone for what he has done, David is forgiven by God. As Jesus explains to Simon the Pharisee, God’s standards of forgiveness are the not the same as human standards. The compassion, love and mercy of God is never denied those who are sincerely sorry for their sins, whatever that sin might be.
I would like to close with a portion of Psalm 51. This psalm written by King David speaks to the love, compassion and mercy he received from God. May these words always be on our lips, in our minds and in our hearts. “Have mercy on me, O God, in accord with your merciful love; in your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions. Thoroughly wash away my guilt; and from my sin cleanse me. For I know my transgressions; my sin is always before me. Against you, you alone have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your eyes so that you are just in your word, and without reproach in your judgment. Cleanse me with hyssop that I may be pure; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. You will let me hear gladness and joy; the bones you have crushed will rejoice. Turn away your face from my sins; blot out all my iniquities. A clean heart create for me, O God; renew within me a steadfast spirit. For you do not desire sacrifice or I would give it; a burnt offering you would not accept. My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn.” Amen.
