January 22, 2015
The Pardon of the Sinful Woman
A reading from the Gospel of Saint Luke 7, 36 – 50:
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 bathe 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 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.”
Today is the feast of Saint Agnes, who was martyred for her faith. She was a young girl of only twelve years of age yet she was not afraid to die for the Lord. She even stretch out her neck that they could easily decapitate her. She called Our Lord her fiancé because she loved Him with all her heart. She is a great example to all of us for she would not commit any sin but she would follow the Lord whether she felt well or whether she was in suffering. Indeed she is in heaven as a great saint who is praying for us all.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“Repent of all your sins My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters who know that I have power to forgive you all your sins. When I went into the home of a Pharisee where I was invited to eat, a sinful woman found out that I was there and she came and washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. She also kissed My feet as an act of love. The Pharisees of course knew that she was a sinner and they thought that I did not know this. Indeed I can read the hearts of people and I can know what people are thinking like this fellow. To answer them I said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” and I added, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Although the Pharisees would not accept that I could forgive sins, I forgave her sins. I wish to show them that I am the Son of God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. I have all power whether human or divine and I used this power at times when I was on earth. I showed the Apostles great power when I walked on the water and crossed the lake. I used My divine power to heal the sick and to bring back the dead to life. I did many other miracles in front of the people so that they would come to accept and believe that I was indeed the Messiah, the Son of God.
Come, My dear friends, and believe wholeheartedly in Me, your Lord, your Savior and your Friend. I want all of you to accept Me as your brother and your friend. Let us then walk together every day on our way to the Promise Land. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin
P.S. We had a beautiful sunny day but it was cold enough.