Tears of Love and Sorrow

Last Updated on January 13, 2023 by GMC

Tears of Love and Sorrow”
Luke 7:36-50 “in a snailshell”
Thursday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
©️2021 by Gloria M. Chang

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.”

Luke 7:36-50

4 Replies to “Tears of Love and Sorrow”

  1. Dear GMC, Thank you for the spiritual imagery in your reflection. It goes deeply into my psyche to heal. In my condition, I usually feel broken, but now I can feel like a broken flower blooming with love. I’m still wrapping my heart and mind around these life transforming words. Thank you, GMC, for always helping us stay open to God’s grace.

  2. Two broken pieces of wood,
    carried love itself.
    One vertical reaches upward
    the other reaches across.
    One broken body lays
    in the arms of his mother.
    No greater love than this
    to give life for another.
    Another woman bends low
    washing his road dust feet.
    Prefigures the torture and
    awful death he will meet.
    Let her tears freely flow,
    Great love is what they show.

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