Homily by Pope St. Gregory the Great. 33rd on the Gospels

 Homily by Pope St. Gregory the Great. 33rd on the Gospels

Reading 1

Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Luke

Luke 7:36-50

In that time, one of the Pharisees desired him to eat with him. And he went into the house of the Pharisee, And so on.

Homily by Pope St. Gregory the Great.

33rd on the Gospels

When I think of the repentance of Mary Magdalene I feel closer to weeping than to charging. Is there indeed any man, however stony his heart, who is not somewhat moved to follow the example of her repentance by the tears of that poor sinful woman? She weighed what she did, and would not that what she did should be niggardly. She came unbidden among the guests, and obtruded her tears upon the banquet. You may hence gather her sorrow, that she was content to weep at a feast.

We believe that this woman, of whom Luke saith that she was a woman in the city, which was a sinner, and whom John names Mary,  was the same as she of whom it is written in Mark xvi. 9 that the Lord had cast out of her seven devils. And what signify seven devils but all manner of sin? For even as seven days do represent all time, so doth the number seven stand for all. Therefore, is it said that Mary had seven devils, because she was full of all sin.

But see how she realized the depth of her own sin, and came to be washed to the Well of Mercy, before all them which were bidden to the feast. The bitterness of her inward shame made her esteem it a light thing to be despised outwardly. At what then do we marvel, my brethren? That she came, or that the Lord welcomed her? Or would it be truer for me to say that He drew her to Him and welcomed her when she came? for His mercy inwardly drew her, and, when she came, His gentleness openly welcomed her.