IT TAKES A GOOD PERSON TO LOVE WELL

11th Sunday in Ord Time (C)

Gospel Reading: Luke 7: 36-8:3

How often have you kept yourself hidden from yourself? That is what the Pharisee does in this gospel reading. He invites Jesus to dinner, in comes the woman whose tears wash the feet of Jesus. She wipes them with her hair and anoints them with perfumed oil. The Pharisee inwardly remarks,“If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is that touches him -that she is a sinner.”

What is the Pharisee doing. He is placing himself above the woman. “She is a sinner, I am not,” he is telling himself. And he assumes he knows what a prophet is: a person who knows everything about everybody. And he decides what a prophet must do in regards to a sinner: never let a sinner touch him.

In being preoccupied with his judgment of others, the Pharisee is not noticing himself. It was the custom in those days to perform certain acts of etiquette and kindness towards visitors, invited or not. Hospitality was considered as a priority among the virtues. Jesus reminded the Pharisee host who invited him for dinner that he did not offer the standard etiquette nor the expected thoughtfulness. He did not provide water for the washing of Jesus’ feet to remove the dust of the road. He did not greet Jesus with the kiss of welcome and friendship. He did not anoint Jesus with any perfume to alleviate possible embarrassment Jesus might have from perspiring on the way to the Pharisee’s home.

What it comes down to is this: The Pharisee insulted Jesus. If he forgot the niceties it would probably be a rarity. If he intended the insult, it was extremely disrespectful. The Pharisee in judging others — Jesus and the woman — overlooks his own defects, which in this case are many. He is proud, arrogant, and inhospitable. Jesus pointed out that the Pharisee’s love was small.

Isn’t it easy to put down others? If not out loud publicly and verbally, at least in our minds? Humans seem to easily see the defects in others. Rare is the person who is always seeing the good in others and missing the defects.

Maybe we are being defensive when we criticize another person. We really know we have faults but would rather not dwell on them. In cutting down or bringing attention to the faults of others we do not look at our own, and we keep others from looking at them. But something to think about: in finding fault with others verbally to another we risk placing ourselves on the block of ridicule. The person to whom we gossip might think us petty and weak in love because of what we say about someone else, especially if that someone else is a friend.

What did Jesus mean in saying about the woman, “Her many sins are forgiven because of her great love. Little is forgiven the one whose love is small?” It takes a magnanimous person to love generously. It takes a good person to love well. When we love anyone and try to do good for that person Jesus said that we are also loving him and trying to do for him. And when we are loving him we are in actuality turning our backs to our sins, rejecting them, and choosing Jesus. Forgiveness flows in.

When our love is small, we put a limit on God’s goodness in our lives. We only partially reject our sins and only partially choose Jesus Christ. Forgiveness may find it difficult to seep in. To the degree we love, such is also the degree we are receptive to the ever offered forgiveness of God. “Many sins are forgiven her because of her great love. Little is forgiven the one whose love is small.”

And so, learn from the woman and from the Pharisee. From the woman: her great love and courage. From the Pharisee: his little or no love blinding him to his own sins while intent upon those of others.

Try to see yourself as you are and work at improving. This is proper love of yourself. See others as they are with all their good as well as their bad, helping when you can and keeping your mouth shut about their faults. This is love of others. Do this and forgiveness for your sins will flow into you. Others who experience your care might themselves learn to love better. And forgiveness, then, will also be theirs.

Today is father's Day. This is a time for all fathers to reflect upon their duties as responsible and well-integrated men. Our nation has an urgent need that all fathers, be they heads of families, parishes or dioceses, be true and loving men who will give themselves unconditionally until the day the heavenly Father calls them to their eternal reward.