On this Ember Friday , I read the Gospel of Saint Luke chapter 7, beginning at verse 36. It is the well known story about the woman , a sinner, who came and wept at the Lord's feet, anointing Jesus and also weeping , washed his feet with her tears.
Tell me my friends , does this woman remind us of anybody?
I think the woman in the Gospel story is typical of you and I. After all our sins we turn to our Lord with all our heart, and imitate the sorrow of her penitence.
What does the use of the ointment mean ? It can only be the sweet savour of a good report. Blessed Saint Paul said once :" In every place we are onto God , a sweet savour of Jesus Christ. "
So then , if we by good works spread abroad through the Church the saviour of a good report, then we put ointment on the body of the Lord. Lets face it , we withstood the Lord at His very face, during the time we were in sin and we went contrary to His way. Now we turn again and we repent of our sins and stand behind our Lord, we stand at His feet, because we do follow in His footsteps.
Then the woman in the story washed Jesus's feet with her tears.And this we also do in the very deed when we are moved by loving-kindness toward any of the least of His members, and whenever we feel compassion with His Saints in their tribulations and whenever we count their sorrows to be our own.
I wish you a Blessed day.
Father Ed Bakker
