Arulvakku

17.09.2020 — Salvation is enormous risk taking

24th Week in Ord. Time, Thursday – 17th September 2020 — Gospel:        Lk 7,36-50

Salvation is enormous risk taking

This portion of Luke’s gospel wraps a parable with a life story. Both the story and the two main characters are unusually well-developed. Both Simon the Pharisee and the unnamed silent woman merit attention. They both gather at or come near the table with Jesus. It is very clear that both of them have some history with Jesus as well. In Simon’s case, having recognized Jesus as a great teacher, he invited him for a banquet. As a Pharisee who values religious cleanness, Simon accepted Jesus to be a welcome participant at a dinner, who in turn also accepted his invitation. He knew more about Jesus, even about how he would behave if he knew what kind of woman had entered the dining room. When Jesus accepts the woman’s attention, Simon believes that he cannot be a prophet after all. However, through the parable and question/response Jesus declared him “correct”. The parable indirectly refers to Simon’s lack of hospitality and gratefulness for which he needs to be ashamed of. Still there is a future for Simon because his debts were forgiven completely.

Meanwhile, the woman also has a history with Jesus, which is manifested in her acts of enormous gratitude and extraordinary behaviour. She is a sinner in the city, who has been forgiven earlier by Jesus, for which she now pours out her gratitude in tears, kisses, and lotion. On her own initiative, she takes the risk of entering a males-only gathering, where the women are deemed unclean in a Pharisaic meal. Yet her gratitude is too great to be contained within ordinary boundaries and spreads like the perfume. Jesus assures her of a bright future by offering both forgiveness and salvation. The Pharisee treats Jesus as a curiosity to be explored and grabs the opportunity to criticize or judge Jesus. The woman approaches and treats Jesus as her Saviour and seized this opportunity to repent of her sins. The Pharisee with full of pride and self-righteousness approaches Jesus with doubt about His character. The praxis woman approaches Jesus with innocence, faith and humility.