Commentary: Today’s first reading recounts when the prophet Nathan confronted King David about the serious sins he had committed. Through the prophet Nathan, the Lord reminded David of the many blessings he had given him and then conveyed how serious David’s sins were. The consequence for his sins would be that “the sword shall never depart from your house.” In other words, violence and discord would plague David’s family and descendants as a result of his sins. David, in fact, spent the rest of his life facing in-fighting within his family, including having to fight against his own son, Absalom, who tried to take the throne from him. Still, David repented of his sins and the Lord forgave him. A few lessons can be taken from this: 1.) All sin has consequences; 2.) Sin affects not only the one committing the sin but the community; and 3.) There is no sin too great for the Lord to forgive, if we are willing to repent and ask for His forgiveness.
Commentary: In order to correctly understand today’s second reading, we must define some terms. First, justification (i.e. to be justified) means the process by which someone becomes righteous before God. In other words, it is the means by which we are saved from our sins and brought into right communion with God. In today’s second reading, the Apostle Paul speaks of how we are justified. He first says we are “not justified by works of the law.” Again, we must define some terms. “Works of the law” have often been misinterpreted as referring to all works so as to teach that our actions do not have anything to do with our salvation. But that is not what Paul meant. In fact, “works of the law” was a technical phrase in Paul’s day referring to the Jewish ceremonial law. Specifically, the phrase referred to practices such as circumcision, observing the kosher food laws, etc. Paul’s message here, then, is that we are not saved by following those laws. This may seem odd to our ears today, but it was a major topic of discussion in the 1st-century Church due to the conversion of Gentiles (i.e. non-Jews) to Christianity. The question was, do Gentiles have to observe the Jewish ceremonial laws in order to be saved? The early Church answered “no.” And Paul here was simply reiterating that teaching by affirming that we are justified “through faith in Jesus Christ” and “not by works of the law.”
Commentary: In today’s gospel we see the themes of forgiveness and salvation from the first two readings continued. Although we do not know the details of her offenses, the “sinful woman” certainly had a reputation for an unrighteous lifestyle. Not knowing her specific sins and not knowing her identity (although one tradition holds that she was Mary Magdalene, named at the end of the passage), gives us the opportunity to put ourselves in her place. Whatever sins we have committed, we can bring them to the feet of Jesus and find forgiveness through faith in Him. The “sinful woman” is a great example to us for her humility. She boldly approached Jesus, honored Him as Lord, and trusted in Him for salvation. As a result, He forgave her and here life was changed. On the other hand, let us not look to Simon, the Pharisee, as an example. He was prideful and more concerned with self-righteousness and status than true piety.
Taking it Home:
Experience the same forgiveness offered to David and the “sinful woman” in today’s readings by visiting the Sacrament of Reconciliation with faith and repentance.