This Sunday (10/8/2023) is the 4th Sunday of Thoout, and the Holy Gospel for this week is from Luke 7:36-50. This passage talks about the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and anointed His feet with fragrant oil. After this, sharing a metaphor with a nearby Pharisee, Jesus says to the woman “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (v. 50).
This Gospel gives an example of repentance. This woman, who we do not know, has committed sins, and it weighed on her so heavily that she went and washed Jesus’ feet with her tears. Likewise, whenever one sins, he or she ought to go away from the wrongdoing and come back to Jesus Christ.
On this matter, St. Cyril of Alexandria says, “But Christ arose for us, not to subject our state to the curses that are by the law, but to redeem those subject to sin by a mercy superior to the law.” Additionally, we read in one of the fractions that “For when You desired to save me, You did not send me an angel nor an archangel nor a cherub nor a prophet. Rather You alone descended from the Father’s bosom to the womb of the Virgin.” Jesus is our Merciful Redeemer, and He alone became man to save us and to redeem us, His creation.
May we always continue to be faithful to Him and repentant so we may become one with Him.
Sources:
- ESV Bible
- Fraction to the Son (O You the Being…)
- St. Cyril of Alexandria’s Commentary on Luke Sermon 40 Link