11 th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Repentance
A few years ago one of my fellow workers came into the office the day after having been involved in an automobile accident. She felt bad because her automobile had been damaged by a young lady who had run a stop sign. At the time of the accident the young lady had apologized profusely for her mistake. A few days later my co-worker found out that this same young lady had changed her story when she filled out the accident report trying to blame her for the accident instead. Fortunately for my co-worker the young lady had been cited by a police officer at the time of the offence.
At least weekly we see in the news, politicians caught in lies and infidelities and their attempts at cover up often go on for weeks. The one thing that seems most obvious to everyone, but them, is that they appear sorry, not for doing wrong, but rather for getting caught and having to face the consequences.
At least twice in the last few years here in Manchester elderly persons, one a parishioner of ours, have been hit by cars and just left on the side of the road.
What does all this say about the current direction of how we value repentance and honesty.
What is lacking in each of these incidents is a humble integrity that leads sinners to own their actions and decisions and admit their guilt. British historian and politician Thomas McCauley describes integrity as the measure of a good person who does the right thing, even when no one would know whether they did it or not.
Stephen Covey, author of Everyday Greatness tells the story of a father and son fishing alone in the middle of a New Hampshire lake. They had caught several perch and sunfish and all of a sudden the son caught the biggest bass that either of them had ever seen. As the boy wrestled the bass into the boat the father lit a match and looked at his watch. It was 10:00 pm and Bass season did not begin until midnight. “You have to put it back son” the father said over the boys objections, and the obvious fact that no one would have known. To this day some
34 years later the boy remembers that incident each time he comes up against

ethical issues, and that memory inspires him to make the right choice, this event became a teachable moment.
King David in today’s first reading, when challenged for his misdeed of murder by the prophet Nathan, chose the path of integrity and humility. As king he had the power to eliminate Nathan and his challenge, and hide the whole event. As king he was above the law, but not God’s law. He admitted his guilt, repented greatly, and suffered the consequences of his sin then went on with his life. / There are no sins so great that God cannot forgive them.
Paul, bragged about his efforts at doing great works to earn his justification, but once he met the risen Jesus he realized that justification is neither earned nor deserved. This second reading reminds us that even though we strive to live the good life, salvation and justification are in the end God’s gift to us for faith in
Jesus. We sometimes fail to live up to Christ’s expectations but he is always there waiting to forgive us. We should live as Saint Paul reminds us “I live by faith in the
Son of God.”
In today’s Gospel Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus into his house, out of curiosity, or to test him, we really don’t know, but this passage does tell us that Simon had ignored the basic norms of hospitality towards Jesus, an indication of lack of respect. But God, by sending the sinful woman there at that moment, provided
Jesus a teachable moment for Simon. When the woman came in Simon incorrectly judged her actions and Jesus’ response to her extraordinary act of repentance. Imagine the courage it took this woman to make this a public act.
Jesus teaches Simon and us, that God is always ready to forgive sins, no matter how many, no matter how bad. Then we hear those words that must have been so consoling to the sinful woman. “your sins are forgiven” “your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

We have the opportunity to receive this same grace, to hear these same words, each time we go to the sacrament of reconciliation. Jesus was there to meet the sinful woman in her need, and thanks to the great grace of this sacrament he left us, he is still here for us.
Today’s readings teach us how to prepare for a good confession:
To Identify and own up to the wrong we have done.
To Repent of our actions and strive not to fail again.
To bring those sins to Jesus in the sacrament of reconciliation.
Today’s readings show us not only how to be responsible for our actions, but also that we have a God who is waiting to forgive us, no matter what the sin. A God that longs to restore us to that right relationship we were created for.
That same love and forgiveness extended to King David, Paul, and the sinful woman awaits each one of us.
Forgiveness and salvation are God’s gifts, which we sinners appropriate by faith.