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 canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 

Then turning toward 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.”

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

As a parent, when either of my boys are really upset and maybe say or do things out of anger, I tell them, “I love you no matter what.” And I truly mean that. When they are ready to repair, we usually end up having a good long hug that says more than words ever could.

What astonishes and humbles me as an adult is that God has the same tender message for each of us: “I love you no matter what.” He knows when we are sorry for our awkward and messy choices, when we pick being selfish over being generous or loving, when we hurt others because we are not yet whole. The woman in this story has no adequate words to say she is sorry or to ask for forgiveness outright for her sins; all she can do is show Jesus her love through her tears and physical care.

When we are ready to ask for forgiveness, the love God returns to us is always greater than our ask.

—Kristy C. Parrish is the former principal at Immaculate Conception School in Fairbanks, Alaska, and a participant in Jesuit Seminars in Ignatian Leadership.

Jesus, I feel within me a great desire to please you but, at the same time, I feel totally incapable of doing this without your special light and help, which I can expect only from you. Accomplish your will within me—even in spite of me.

—St. Claude la Colombiere, SJ