Your faith has saved you

18 SEPTEMBER (Lk 7,36-50)

Taking away the sin of the world is the real mission of Jesus. It is attested by the angel to Joseph, when he proclaims him the mystery that is happening in Mary and what he must do to become an active part of it. John the Baptist also proclaims it when he presents Jesus to the world. The Angel and the Prophet agree to the same truth.

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Mt 1,18-21).

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God” (Jn 1,29-34).  

Jesus takes away the sin of the world according to a double mode. By atoning for it or paying our contracted debt which is not payable, forgiving it after a sincere repentance on the part of the sinner. The woman with this very humble act of prostration and annihilation of herself, does nothing but asking the Lord for forgiveness. She believes Jesus a person sent by God for this historical juncture: to remove the sin from the hearts of many. However, man is evil and insane especially in his heart. His spiritual blindness does not make him see the sin that lurks in his heart; instead, it shows him and not always, that the heart of the other is insane, evil, lewd, lascivious, overbearing and arrogant. These are the sad fruits of sin. The sinner has no mercy for sinners, he judges and condemn them to severe penalties. He is often merciless towards them. He does not know that God’s judgment will be heavy on him.

A Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, 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 and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Jesus does not let himself be tempted by the words of men. With utmost perfect prudence reveals the magnitude of the gesture of the woman and ratifies with the words the forgiveness that he had already granted her with the heart. Only with divine wisdom certain mouths can be put to rest. Other routes are not practicable. Jesus forgives and does not care about anything anymore.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints make us free and pure at heart.