The Crying Woman

In today's Gospel, we hear a familiar story, about a woman who washes Jesus' feet with her tears, dries them with her hair, and then anoints them with expensive oil (Luke 7 36:50). As a child, it was a funny image. How does someone cry enough to wash another person's feet? Her hair must have been so long to be able to dry His feet like that... Gross, kissing someone's feet!

The image itself distracted me from the reality of the what this woman was doing. Now, as an adult and hearing this story, my pride cringes at the idea of kneeling before another person and washing their feet with my tears and drying them with my hair (although I still don't think my hair is long enough for that). Obviously, there is more to the story: Jesus informs her that her sins are forgiven and reminds the Pharisees that what she has done and the great love she has shown, which earns her great forgiveness in return. "Your faith has saved you," He tells her.

I think part of the impact of this story happens before the beginning. Try to just imagine acting like she does. Disregard the probability of it, but try to imagine being so sorry and ashamed for what you have done that you produce enough tears to wash someone's feet. Try to imagine planning this out, she obviously had forethought if she had purchased that jar of oil beforehand. Putting yourself low enough to the ground that you can was another's feet. Making the decision to put yourself literally at the feet of your Lord and admit all of your faults.

Would you be able to put your pride aside and do this? Keep in mind, Jesus has not told her that He is God, He has not risen from the dead yet, she is relying on faith and only her faith. Do you have enough faith in God, enough love for God, enough trust in God to put yourself out there? To cry in front of the leaders of your hometown and religion and physically, if not verbally, show how sorry you are for your sins?

Maybe we don't have to go so far though...

If what saved her was her faith, then maybe that is all that is needed. Faith that God will always forgive you, welcome you, and take you into loving arms. You have to trust that God will. And how can we, as Catholics (or Christians) do this? We can wash another's feet, we can ask for forgiveness either in prayer, at church, or in confession. But the important thing is that we have enough faith to ask in the first place.

 Ask and receive.


Tota tua,

LeAnn

Woman of God

When I was younger, I didn't see it. I was so convinced that I was just like my dad, a loud extrovert, bossy, friendly, fun. It wasn't until late into high school, and early into college that I started to recognize why I would get so touchy with people at social settings- I needed a break from them. I was not the extrovert I had always thought I was, I loved my alone time, and as a friend obsessed with the Meyers-Briggs test pointed out, I would rather read a good book than go to a good party.

Mom and my younger sister, Ginna.

When I was younger, I didn't see it, how alike my mother and I truly are. She is such a strong, opinionated woman in her quiet, respectful ways. She likes to spend time at home, with her family, and her best friend (my dad). She leads a prayerful life behind closed doors, in the innermost room, making sure the left hand does not see what the right is doing.

When I was younger, I didn't see how God-fearing my mother was, how much her Catholic faith meant to her. Church was just another thing on the list of Sunday chores to me, alongside mowing the lawn, doing the dishes, and cleaning my room. But looking back, recalling what she looked like in church, I now realize how much she loved church.

The majority of my preteen and teen years were spent battling it out with mom, I wanted to my own person, and that person did not always agree with the vision she had for her daughter. But piece by piece, as I've grown up away from her, more of those little messages she had given me. She gave me so much to keep in mind as grew, and thankfully, it stuck eventually.

To dress modestly. To say the rosary to help you fall asleep when you can't at night. Church. The power of prayer. To be a servant, rather than just leader. To be giving.

Today is my mom's birthday, and I always struggle with what to say and how to celebrate it. She's a modest woman, one who does not like a lot of attention, or a big fuss over. So I hope that what my family has come up with will fit her tastes this year. Because our family would be nothing without her firm guidance, and love.

I love you Mom.


Totus Tuus,

LeAnn