Today’s gospel (Luke 7:36-8:3) presents one of my favorite scripture passages.

This is the occasion where Jesus is dining with the Pharisees when quite unexpectedly a “sinful woman” approaches Jesus and, in an act of extraordinary repentance and humility, worships Jesus by washing his feet with her tears and drying them with her hair.

I suppose one of the reasons that this scripture passage appeals to me so much is because of how well it is portrayed in the TV mini-series “Jesus of Nazareth”.  In that unforgettable scene it is Anne Bancroft portraying the repentant woman, and Robert Powell portraying the merciful Christ. Both actors get it just right.  The scene is extremely touching, as is the gospel passage that it is based on.

But maybe the reason that this scripture passage resonates so much with me is because of the message it provides us about the love and mercy that God showers upon us in order to continually draw us to him.

Jesus’ reaction to the repentant woman once again tells us that God is so moved and pleased by that one repentant sinner.  We heard this a couple weeks back in the parable of the lost sheep.  We hear this again with today’s gospel.

But we hear more.

Jesus points out that it is by our willful act of humble contrition and repentance – and the forgiveness received – that we come to feel God’s love more than ever.  Not only is our God willing to forgive any and every sin we might commit, but he allows us – through our act of repentance – to experience his love in an extra-ordinary way.  In some ways Jesus is saying that repentant sinners can experience God’s forgiving and merciful love in a way that a righteous person might not.

But there’s even more.

Jesus goes on to say that as we – in our humility and contrition – experience God’s great love and forgiveness, we are then inspired to return that love back to God.  We come to love God more and more – just as we should – as a result of the grace God imparts to us in our humility and contrition.

When you think about all this it is quite extraordinary.   God does not condemn us.  God forgives us.  Again and again God forgives us. And in that act of forgiveness he imparts a grace that impels us to turn back to him with an even greater love.

Two thousand years later, we can imitate that repentant woman.  Like her we can approach Jesus with confidence. No matter how far we stray, God is ALWAYS ready with open arms to welcome us back.