Today, Simon the Pharisee invites Jesus to dine with the purpose of drawing people’s attention. It was an act of arrogance, but his behavior when he met Jesus, did not even correspond to the most elementary good manners.
While dining, a public sinner does a great act of humility: “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" (Lk 7:38).
On the other hand, when meeting Jesus the Pharisee did not give Him the greeting kiss, or water for His feet, a towel to wipe them, nor did he anoint Him on the head with oil. Furthermore, the Pharisee 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.” (Lk 7:39). It was the Pharisee, in fact, who didn't know who He was!
Pope Francis has very much insisted on the importance of approaching the sick, thus "touching the flesh of Christ". Upon canonizing St. Guadalupe García, Francisco said: “by renouncing an easy life in order to follow Jesus’ call she taught people how to love poverty, how to feel greater love for the poor and for the sick… And this is called “touching the flesh of Christ”. The poor, the abandoned, the sick and the marginalized are the flesh of Christ.” Jesus touched the sick and He allowed them and the sinners to touch him.
The sinner of the Gospel touched Jesus and He was happy to see how her heart was transmuted. For this reason, He gave her the peace to reward her courageous faith. -You, my friend, do you come with love to touch the flesh of Christ in so many that go by your side and need you? If you do it, your reward will be the peace with God, with others and with yourself.
Thoughts on Today's Gospel
“For this woman, beholding the spots of her shame, ran to wash them at the fountain of mercy, and blushed not at seeing the guests.” (Saint Gregory the Great)
“God always waits for us, even when we have left him behind.” (Francis)
“Contemplative prayer is the prayer of the child of God, of the forgiven sinner who agrees to welcome the love by which he is loved and who wants to respond to it by loving even more (cf. Lk 7:36-50) (...)” (Catechism Of The Catholic Church, Nº 2712)