Readings: Second Samuel 12:7-10, 13; Psalms 32:1-2, 5, 7, 11; Galatians 2:16, 19-21; Luke 7:36–8:3 or 7:36-50;

Jesus allows this sinful woman to come close to him, to have direct contact with him.  And then he administers his forgiveness through real words spoken with a real, audible voice. This was incomprehensible to Simon the Pharisee.  First of all, only God had the authority to forgive sins (and Simon didn’t think Jesus was God). But even more than that, the whole encounter was too mundane, too down-to-earth. Simon was convinced that God was too spiritual for that kind of thing. Not even a prophet would let such a sinful woman come that close, would lower himself to that level.

And yet, Jesus is glad that she has come.  Jesus knew that it was hard for the woman to admit her weakness and neediness in front of other people. But it was the best thing for her to do. Only in that context was she able to express physically, humanly, through her tears and the ointment, her sorrow for her sins, her trust and confidence in his mercy. And only in that context was Jesus able to speak audibly and unmistakably his words of love and forgiveness.

After this encounter, she would never have to doubt God’s forgiveness.  She could always point back to that specific moment, in real time and space, as her new beginning. If she had been an angel, she wouldn’t have wanted to show her love and repentance with tears and anointing. If she had been an angel, it would have been appropriate for God to speak directly to her heart without any human mediation.

But she wasn’t an angel. And neither are we. We have the same need she had. And God knows it. That’s why he has given us the sacrament of confession.