Daily Gospel Reflections
Today’s Scripture Readings
Luke 7:36‐50
One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table.
And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment.
She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment.
Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.’
Jesus spoke up and said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ ‘Teacher,’ he replied, ‘speak.’
‘A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
When they could not pay, he cancelled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?’
Simon answered, ‘I suppose the one for whom he cancelled the greater debt.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘You have judged rightly.’
Then turning towards the woman, he said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.
You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet.
You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.
Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.’
Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’
But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’
And he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’
Reflection
True Worship
‘She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment.’ (Luke 7:38)
I always think first of the smell that must have filled the room when this woman poured ointment over Jesus’ feet—the way it would have disrupted the senses of everyone present. Her behaviour, too, was disruptive: a woman of low reputation engaging in an act, so intimate, so vulnerable. That vulnerability is perhaps the most confronting part. She was willing to offer herself to Jesus in a room full of people who were busy keeping up the pretence of being worthy and important.
I once heard it said that this woman brought three things of immense value to the Lord. Her tears were her sorrow—the painful and disappointing experiences we all carry. Her kisses were her affection—an appeal to the worthy Christ, the God of the universe, poured out upon his feet. And the oil was her strength—in Hebrew Scripture, oil represents strength (Ps 92:10). She lays it down, surrendering what was of value to her in this world at the feet of Christ.
All of this takes place in the midst of Israel’s dignified elite, men who prided themselves on being in control. Yet she unmasks their blindness. She reveals what is true: that we are all in need of Jesus and that he is worthy beyond our wealth, strength, or self-preservation. She shows us how to pray, how to worship in truth, and who Jesus truly is.

