The Eleventh Sunday in

Ordinary Time
When we read bible passages, or hear them read to us, we glean more if we
pay attention to who wrote them, why they were written, and what were the
authors trying to convey to us.

Today’s gospel passage comes to us from St. Luke’s gospel. St. Luke was a
physician. He had a special concern for those who were hurting and needed
healing. Therefore it was by no accident that St. Luke included today’s
episode about the sinful woman in his gospel. In other parts of his gospel we learn of outcasts, people who had been
shunned and hurt by others, people who were ill-treated. In his writing, St. Luke pays special attention to women and the
role they played in the life of Jesus. In St. Luke we find Jesus giving women attention, respect, and honor they would not
otherwise have received in the culture in which they lived.

Also, in reading Sacred Scripture we need to see ourselves in the various characters that are presented to us. For
instance, in the Parable of the Prodigal Son we need to see ourselves as the younger son, see ourselves as his elder
brother, and see ourselves as the father. We need to picture ourselves in their attitudes and in their behaviors.

With that in mind we can turn now to today’s Gospel account. Aside from Jesus, two important human characters emerge
when we gaze into the picture presented to us. One is the Pharisee, the other the sinful woman. I want to point out to you
that it was the custom in those days to offer water to those who entered homes for a meal, water to wash the dust and dirt
off their feet and water to wash their faces and hands. This was normal and expected courtesy. Here, in this episode, the
Pharisee offered no water to Jesus even though Jesus was an invited guest. It was a snub, a snub that in effect said “You
are dirt as far as I’m concerned.” Normally a warm greeting with a kiss on the cheek was tendered. You see that even
today among Arabs when they first meet and greet each other. Upon Jesus arrival into the Pharisee’s home He was given
no kiss, no sign of closeness or friendship. In other words He was told He was an outsider. The message was: “You’ll get
no respect here!” Anointing with oil was another gesture of hospitality. Actually it was a kind of perfume. In those hot,
dusty regions you can imagine the smells that must have accumulated in the clothes of travelers. Perfumed oil was a way
of making the guests more comfortable. Anointing with oil also had a healing quality to take care of muscle aches, pains,
and weaknesses.

What about the woman who appeared at the dinner? Was she invited? Probably not. After all she had a bad reputation
and had most likely been sexually promiscuous. We don’t know how she got into the party but that doesn’t matter. What
we do know is that she was conscious of her sins, quite conscious of them. She knew she needed forgiveness and
acceptance. Quite obviously she knew who Jesus was and that he was a holy man, an extraordinarily holy man of God.
Boldly she approached Jesus, washed His feet with her tears, wiped them clean with her hair, and then covered His feet
with her kisses. These actions were very intimate… but then she knew a lot about intimacies. The guests at that dinner
must have been shocked. She also knew a lot about Jesus and the forgiveness that overflowed from His heart. She could
recognize love when she saw it, and she fully recognized all of the love in Jesus’ heart. So she humbly laid claim to it. We
would do well to see ourselves in her.

The theologians and preachers of the Early Church, the Church Fathers as we call them, saw her as a type, an icon, of
the Church. That being so, we, the members that constitute the body of the Church, should likewise recognize ourselves
in this woman. We certainly should fear being like the Pharisee who kept himself aloof and distant from Jesus. Worse still,
he sat in judgment on Jesus and claimed that Jesus could not forgive sins because forgiveness of sin is something
private, something between the sinner and God alone. We hear that said in our own lives these days. We hear that
forgiveness of sin is something between God and the sinner only, and that the Church and her priests need not be
involved.

All of this causes me to leave you with two questions, questions that are extremely important for each one of us here.
First question: Just how close are you to Jesus? Can you see yourself on as intimate terms with Him as this woman saw
herself? Do you approach Him as humbly and boldly as she did? Second question: When was the last time you allowed
Jesus, present in His Church and in His priests, to forgive you your sins? Can you find God’s forgiveness for you coming
to you in Christ’s Body, the Church? In other words, are you more the Pharisee than you are the woman in today’s gospel
account?
Reflection by Rev. Charles Irvin
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 THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
4th Annual Fundraising Golf Tournament
This Tournament will benefit a number of
local charities which we support on an
annual basis. This year's tournament will be
held on Sunday June 27th at Hornby Glen in
Halton Hills. The cost is $140.00 per person.
If you're interested in a fun day of Golf, a chance at
$10,000 dollars for a hole in one, a delicious steak dinner,
and wonderful prizes; all for a good cause, please call
to reserve your spot or foursome.
We are also accepting prize donations as well as corporate
or individual hole sponsors for $100 each.
Come on out and have some fun and together we can
make a difference in our community. For more info or to
make a reservation please contact Dan Trigiani at (905)
569-7126.
WE REMEMBER IN OUR PRAYERS
MONDAY, JUNE 14 AT 7:30 p.m..
1 Kings 21: 1-16, Matt. 5: 38-42
+ Joe Pimentel
TUESDAY, JUNE 15 AT 8:45 A.M.
1 Kings 21: 17-29, Matt. 5: 43-48
+ Frank Wright
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16 AT 7:30 P.M.
2 Kings 2: 1, 6-14
THURSDAY, JUNE 17 AT 8:45 A.M.
Sir. 48: 1-14, Matt. 6: 7-15
FRIDAY, JUNE 18 AT 7:30 P.M.
2 Kings 11: 1-4, 9-18, 20, Matt. 6: 19-23
SATURDAY, JUNE 19 AT 9:00 A.M.
2 Chr. 24: 17-25, Matt. 6: 24-34
+ Gord Smith, Senior & Gord Smith Junior
SATURDAY, JUNE 19 AT 5:00 P.M.
Zec. 12: 1-11, 13:1, Gal. 3: 26-29, Luke 9: 18-24
SUNDAY, JUNE 20
Zec. 12: 1-11, 13:1, Gal. 3: 26-29, Luke 9: 18-24
8:00 a.m. S.I. Don Roberts
9:30 a.m. + Gerry Boudreau
+ Don McMullen
11:00 a.m.
12:30p.m.
*Mass Intentions are available where there is no name
mentioned. Please call the Parish Office – 905-822-8132,
Ext. 3.
SOCIAL COMMITTEE MEETING
REMINDER: There will be a meeting of the Social
Committee on Tuesday, June 22nda t 7:00 p.m. in the
Committee Room in the rectory.
THE CHURCH AND THE SPIRIT
Where the Church is, there is the Spirit of God; and where
the Spirit of God is, there is the Church and all grace, and
the Spirit is truth. St. Irenaeus
ShareLife Community Challenge –
A Generous Gift, Just in Time.
Through the ShareLife Community challenge,
a generous donor has pledged to match all new
and increased gifts to the 2010 ShareLife campaign, up to
a total of $500,000. This gift couldn’t have come at a more
important time- ShareLife social service agencies
identified more than $800,000 in unfunded needs this
year. Your gift could help shorten waiting lists, open new
shelter beds, and serve more meals for those in need
around us. For more information, please visit
www.sharelife.org.
Our total collected is: $126,420.77. Donations may
still be made up to July 31st, 2010. ShareLife
envelopes are available at the back of the church for
your convenience. Let’s continue working wonders
together!
FR. JOSEPH – 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF
ORDINATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD
Please join us on Wednesday, June 23rd at 7:30 p.m. Mass
to celebrate Fr. Joseph’s 10th Anniversary of Ordination to
the Priesthood. There will be a reception for Father in the
Parish Hall following the Mass.
IMPORTANT DATES OF OUR PARISH SCHOOLS
CLOSING AND GRADUATION MASSES
CHRIST THE KING SCHOOL
Graduation Mass – Monday, June 21st at 6 pm in the school
Closing School Mass – Wednesday, June 23 at 9:15 a.m. in
the school
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI SCHOOL
Graduation Mass – Thursday, June 24th at 6:45 p.m. in the
church
Closing School Mass – Tuesday, June 22nd at 8:45 a.m. in
the church
ST. MARGARET OF SCOTLAND SCHOOL
Graduation Mass – Monday, June 28th at 6:00 p.m. in the
church
Closing School Mass – Thursday, June 24th at 9:30 a.m. in
the church
LECTIO DIVINA
St. Michael’s Cathedral, 65 Bond Street, Toronto. All are
welcome to join Archbishop Collins on Sunday, June 13th as
he leads us in prayer and reflection on scriptural
passages. Vespers – 7:00 p.m., Lectio Divina – 7:30 – 8:15
p.m.
For more information, resources and to download audio or
video clips of the Lectio Divina, visit us online at
www.archtoronto.org/lectio. This is the last Lectio Divina
evening until September.