Anointing of the Forgiven

 
11th Sunday in Ordinary Time 12 June 2016

First reading
2 Samuel 12:7-10,13

Nathan said to David, ‘The Lord the God of Israel says this, “I anointed you king over Israel; I delivered you from the hands of Saul; I gave your master’s house to you, his wives into your arms; I gave you the House of Israel and of Judah; and if this were not enough, I would add as much again for you. Why have you shown contempt for the Lord, doing what displeases him? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, taken his wife for your own, and killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. So now the sword will never be far from your House, since you have shown contempt for me and taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.”’

  David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ Then Nathan said to David, ‘The Lord, for his part, forgives your sin; you are not to die.’

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 31:1-2,5,7,11

Second reading
Galatians 1:11-19

We acknowledge that what makes a man righteous is not obedience to the Law, but faith in Jesus Christ. We had to become believers in Christ Jesus no less than you had, and now we hold that faith in Christ rather than fidelity to the Law is what justifies us, and that no one can be justified by keeping the Law. In other words, through the Law I am dead to the Law, so that now I can live for God. I have been crucified with Christ, and I live now not with my own life but with the life of Christ who lives in me. The life I now live in this body I live in faith: faith in the Son of God who loved me and who sacrificed himself for my sake. I cannot bring myself to give up God’s gift: if the Law can justify us, there is no point in the death of Christ.  

Gospel	Luke  7:36-8:3

One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to a meal. When he arrived at the Pharisee’s house and took his place at table, a woman came in, who had a bad name in the town. She had heard he was dining with the Pharisee and had brought with her an alabaster jar of ointment. She waited behind him at his feet, weeping, and her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them away with her hair; then she covered his feet with kisses and anointed them with the ointment.

  When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who this woman is that is touching him and what a bad name she has.’ Then Jesus took him up and said, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ ‘Speak, Master’ was the reply. ‘There was once a creditor who had two men in his debt; one owed him five hundred denarii, the other fifty. They were unable to pay, so he pardoned them both. Which of them will love him more?’ ‘The one who was pardoned more, I suppose’ answered Simon. Jesus said, ‘You are right.’

  Then he turned to the woman. ‘Simon,’ he said ‘you see this woman? I came into your house, and you poured no water over my feet, but she has poured out her tears over my feet and wiped them away with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses ever since I came in. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. For this reason I tell you that her sins, her many sins, must have been forgiven her, or she would not have shown such great love. It is the man who is forgiven little who shows little love.’ Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ Those who were with him at table began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this man, that he even forgives sins?’ But he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’

  Now after this he made his way through towns and villages preaching, and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God. With him went the Twelve, as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments: Mary surnamed the Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and several others who provided for them out of their own resources.

  Reflection
By Bernard M. Borja  

We have been told to forgive often no matter how hard and impossible. It's really easy to say and tell this to others as an advice. But there are times when we are caught in a situation that whenever we are offended by others, forgiveness becomes a lesser option.

Jesus has been the subject of controversy, during His time and even today, because of forgiveness. During His time, most people question how He had the power to forgive sinners when people believe that only God the Father can do that. In our present time, we now believe that Jesus Himself can forgive us, but we often fail to realize that we also have the power to forgive others.

A man driving in a main road was suddenly cut by a speeding car that came out of nowhere. He then sped up to follow the car and after overtaking, he stepped hard on the brakes to stop the car behind him. A road rage case has started.

A woman falling in line to board the train was suddenly bumped by someone who's in a hurry to get inside the train. She confronts the person as soon as they get in and said, "You are an uneducated person because you don't have respect for others!" A commotion and heated argument occurred inside a public transport.

A statement of a well-known person posted in social media sparked a debate among followers and non-followers. Judgement and curses have been thrown to each other like, "You are so stupid! I wish you experience some trouble and then you'll realize that we are right!" And threats such as, "I will find you and I will make you experience that trouble you are looking for!" A prelude to civil war is being ignited.

When the people during the time of Jesus asked themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?", we believers can answer with the question, "Who is He who won't forgive because He loves us?" But can we also ask ourselves today, "Who am I to deny forgiveness to others who offended me when I have been forgiven by The One I offended most?" Sometimes we may also wonder how we can pray, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us..." and still find it impossible to even decide to forgive.

One of the seven last words of Jesus before He died on the cross reminds us on how He prayed to the Father to forgive us. But what if Jesus asked you the same thing that He asked God our Father to forgive others? What if you were that driver who had been cut by a speeding car, but the moment you step on the pedal to speed up, Jesus was suddenly beside you saying, "Please forgive him. For he doesn't know what he's doing." And then you found out that the driver is in a hurry to get to a hospital to see his dying parent. What if you were that woman in the train and the moment the other person bumped you, Jesus was suddenly beside you saying, "Please forgive her. She doesn't know what she's doing." And then you saw one of her eyes swollen, needing immediate medical attention. What if you were given a chance to show love in simple ways like serve and anoint others?

And with those simple ways, what if we can also be inspired to see Jesus in other people, to receive an anointing through forgiveness, as they go on their journey to fulfill their purpose here on earth?

Prayer

Dear God our Father, thank You for the gift of forgiveness that we are anointed to continue Your works here on earth. May we see Jesus more in other people as we choose to love them in spite of all the negative things that are happening today. Help us to find peace through serving each other. Replace our being judgmental with Your mercy. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.