Her many sins must have been forgiven her
There is an interesting sentence in the gospel of today. When Simon the Pharisee saw the sinful woman at the feet of Jesus, he thought to himself "if this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner." Simon did not voice his thoughts; he thought to himself. But then the next sentence states: "Jesus said to him in reply..." We normally do not reply to unsaid thoughts of others.
We can conclude Simon the Pharisee's thought for him. "Since this man does not seem to know what kind of woman, she is to the extent of allowing her to touch his feet, then he is not a prophet. He is an imposter." We cannot really blame Simon for reasoning like that. It was a great claim for anyone to say that he was the Messiah. You had to be sure that it was not another imposter like many who had come before. An educated man and a religious leader especially had to be sure that he was not deceived.
But Jesus proved to Simon beyond any reasonable doubt what he was. In the first place he showed him that he could read his thoughts. He said in reply to what Simon had been thinking, as if Simon had thought aloud. Secondly, he showed to Simon that indeed he knew who the woman was. He described her as one who owed God much. He later told her to go in peace because her sins had been forgiven, even though the woman had not said anything in confession. Thirdly he knew what Simon did not know: He knew that she was repentant of her mucky past. Fourthly, he knew a lot about Simon the Pharisee; he knew that he too owed God something. He was a sinner even though in a less grievous way than the woman. Furthermore, he had omitted the customary acts of courtesy to Jesus, his guest. He had not given him water to wash his feet, or greeted him with a kiss, or anointed his head; things that the woman had done in a more personal way. Finally, he knew that Simon's love towards God was lukewarm.
Jesus knows us through and through. He knows every weakness we have, every sin we have committed; but he also knows and appreciates every effort we make to please him, even when it does not seem much. Tears cannot wash dusty feet clean, nor is hair a good towel especially when it is attached to a living head. If anything, these actions of the woman were an embarrassment to Jesus. But Jesus does not look at the effects but at the intention and he appreciates every effort we make to overcome sin and return to him in gratitude.
