Reflecting on Luke’s Gospel message for today (7:36-50) as well as reflecting on my experiences of this week, I combined both in my commute contemplation.
Luke’s Gospel for today is the account of the woman who bathes Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair then she anoints his feet with ointment. All who witness the scene are taken aback and amazed that Jesus forgives her for her sins.
It has been a busy, hectic week. During this week there have been many challenges of malfunctions of computers, machines and people. Yesterday, it felt like I had reached an over-capacity of these challenges. Feeling the weariness of this, my temptation was great to be a malfunctioning person, acting with behaviors that are inconsistent with love and charity. And, I have to confess to slipping several times into a malfunctioning person.
As I pray about all of this, I absorb strength and inspiration from Jesus’ words and behavior as recorded in Luke’s Gospel. I recognize my malfunctions (sins) of this week and tearfully ask for forgiveness from a contrite heart. And, as I do this, I feel Jesus’ forgiveness and can smell the sweet perfume of the woman who anointed Jesus.
And as this perfume of forgiveness permeates me, I feel that I am now able to operate and behave from a place of love and charity for others. I can now forgive all of the malfunctioning others as well as have a sense of empathy and solidarity for their condition. We are all in this together. We were made to love, support and care for each other. And so I pray for the forgiveness of my trespasses and for those who trespass against me. Suddenly, I am in a better place and strengthened by Jesus’ love and forgiveness, I begin a new day.
Let us pray for each other. Let us forgive each other‘s trespasses. Let us ask for forgiveness for our trespasses. Through our prayers and actions, we will enjoy the sweet perfume of Jesus’ forgiveness. We come to know and realize how forgiveness is another way to love.
