Reflection
1 Corinthians 15: 1-11
Psalm 118
Luke 7: 36-50
Today’s gospel follows in the exact same track as our gospel from Monday involving the centurion who is seeking a cure for the centurion’s slave. Before we get into the gospel, can’t help but comment on our first reading.
Paul is writing to the people in Corinth, a place of pagans, debauchery, and physical harm around every corner…not a nice place. Paul proudly and with great humility reiterates what the people need to share – Jesus is the way to follow. It is interesting that Paul refers to “the Twelve”. Jesus obviously could not have appeared to twelve apostles as Judas had taken his own life. The use of the term “the Twelve” is a reference to there being a general understanding that “the Twelve” was that special group of men who were close to Jesus, and there is no mention of Mary Magdalene because she was a woman and could not have attested to anything.
Back to the gospel…it is a beautiful showing of the great love Jesus has for sinners. The faith that woman must have had in bringing an expensive oil in an alabaster jar to anoint Jesus should bring all of us to our humble knees. Alabaster jars were used to keep oils and perfumes their purest. In other words, she is emptying herself in the most pure and humble way she could.
Does Jesus forgive her sins because she did the act? No. He forgives because she has great faith. He looks at us the same way. With great faith we enter the confessional, knowing that Jesus can and will forgive our sins. When you leave the confessional, do you leave with that sense of great faith? Of course, that requires you get to Confession! Hop to it! Get to Confession this week!
It is a beautiful day! Go smile at God today!