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Bonaventure’s Commentary on Luke’s Gospel Thirty Days of Reflection and Prayer 24 Day Nine: Read and meditate on Luke 7:36-50 Luke 7:49-50: “And those who were at table with him began to say within themselves: Who is this, who even forgives sins? But he said to the woman: Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” Bonaventure tells us: “And those who were at table with him began to say within themselves,” that is, rendering a wicked judgment and heaping scorn on him: “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” As if to say: Since he is a trifle and a nobody, how can he attribute to himself what only God can do? According to what Isaiah 43:25 says: “I am. I am he who wipes out your iniquities for my sake.” And so is verified what Sirach 13:29 has: “The poor man has spoken, and they say: Who is this?” So while they were breaking bread with him, they were also excogitating deceit in their hearts, so that what the Psalmist says may be fulfilled: “If the person who hated me had said great things against me, I would perhaps have hidden myself from him. But you were a person of one mind with me, my guide in life, and my friend” (54:13-14). So these people, by judging wickedly about Christ’s health, became sick, as Bede says: “The sick woman who came to physician Jesus has become healthy, but others are sick of her health.”…. The text continues: “But he said to the woman: Your faith has saved you,” that is, from your sins. The faith, I say, in Christ, of which faith Matthew 1:21 says: “He will save his people from their sins.” And this through faith. Romans 3:26 has: “God justifies him who has the faith in Jesus Christ.” And because justice effects peace with God and with one’s conscience, the text adds: “Go in peace.” Romans 5:1 reads: “So having been justified by faith, let us have peace with God.” 25 Reflection In Luke’s Gospel Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal. Yes, Jesus enjoys association with people – men and women, sinners and saints – over food and drink. He had been accused of being a drunkard and a glutton. While this accusation is false as it stands, it does point to Jesus’ predilection for being with people at a meal. Bonaventure realizes that this is the first meal Jesus will share with his enemies. What he says about Jesus’ third meal with his enemies in Luke 14 can be applied to this meal: “In this action Christ’s wonderful kindness is manifested. It is great in that he was associating with mortal human beings , although he was God…. Indeed, it was greater in that he was associating with his persecutors…. But his kindness is greatest because his association took the form of intimate sharing of food, so that Revelation 3:20 may be fulfilled: ‘I stand at the door and knock. If anyone … opens the door for me, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with me.’ So through the fact that he entered a strange house, Christ’s humility is recommended. Through the fact that he entered a Pharisee’s house, love. Through the fact that he ate a stranger’s food, the poverty of Christ himself.” Prayer Lord, at my age doctors rule my life: Watch your salt intake ; be sure to exercise; take these pills in this sequence and at these times, etc., etc. Help me to listen with at least equal attentiveness to the voice of my Primary Physician, Jesus, my Lord and healer. Let me come to him with love and humility so that he may wipe away my debilitating sin. ...

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