Read Luke 7:36-50
"Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Luke 7:50
The difference between Simon the Pharisee and the woman is the amazing. Simon wants to judge Jesus and the woman allows herself to be judged by the words of Jesus, to whom she then turns for mercy. The woman gate-crashed the party and from an initial significant distance, then finds herself at the feet of Jesus who welcomes her and shows her that she has been forgiven. Simon on the other hand who invites Jesus into his very home, remains distant in his heart because he doesn’t really encounter the Lord. He hides behind a respectable self-righteous facade and doesn't acknowledge that he too is greatly in need of forgiveness. His physical distance was close enough but his faith remained very far.
The woman is saved because she shows that she has faith and confidence in the mercy of God who is ready to forgive the ‘debts’, both great and small to all those who humbly confess their sinfulness and their sins to Him. Simon on the other hand shows no faith in the Lord because he refuses to be in touch with his inner reality.
Lord help me always be confident in your mercy and forgiveness and to never give in to despair and discouragement. Help me cultivate a healthy interior life and give me and all my fellow pilgrims a listening heart during our upcoming pilgrimage.