It’s only against God

Today’s Gospel Text: One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house, and took his place at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was 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 it, 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, "What is it, Teacher?" 41 "A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?" 43 Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more." 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 7:36-50

Reflection: I was once asked by a non-Christian; “you Catholics do wrong and then go for confession and receive forgiveness for whatever wrong you do.”

She meant what she understood from her judgment, based on external observation. Maybe many Catholics look at the sacrament of confession in such terms and pass on such an impression.

Nor does our dearth of proper catechesis solve this problem of understanding the whole sacrament in its proper light.

Since this doctrine on forgiveness of sins is sometimes difficult to understand theologians often add the element of restitution without much elaboration in that direction. 

They could be right by quoting the story of Zacchae’us who offered to do restitution. (cfr. Lk. 19: 1-10)

The precondition for availing the sacrament of confession is always true repentance; a deep inner remorse for ones sins, as that which offends God and turning to him in order to be reconciled to him and through him to one another. Thus attitude of restitution is automatically included.

But what is restitution, who is the one whom we offend the most, that we need to restitute to?

In order to understand this we need to understand the origin of sin. Sin originates when we are not attuned to the supreme God and creator of our soul. When we think we can stand on our own and do things apart from him. Hence David rightly acknowledges; “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight.” Ps 51:4

In such an interpretation of sin, what happens to the love of neighbor? The love of neighbor is not on account of the neighbor’s priorities but because of God’s priority and concern for our neighbor, who gives us the commandment to love our neighbor. Hence God’s concern for the neighbor far outweighs human concern.

Then we shall not love in order to please our neighbor but love our neighbor in a way that they may please God and save themselves for all eternity.

We see the wisdom of such an action in the gospel text of today; it hurt the Pharisee to see the great Jesus being violated by an unclean woman. 

But the greater displeasure was voiced by Jesus, the law giver, to see that the neighbor in need of love and forgiveness was not violated by a petty human judgment of a well intentioned Pharisee. .

Prayer: Lord, broaden my vision so as to understand the depth of your love for us, which far surpasses our narrow petty vision of love.

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