11. Moreover, this is proved in the Gospel, where is described that woman who was a sinner, who came to the house of a certain Pharisee whither the Lord had been bidden with His disciples, and she brought a vessel of ointment, and stood at the Lord’s feet, and washed His feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair, and pressed kisses upon them; so that that Pharisee was provoked, and said, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of a woman this is who touches him; for she is a sinner.”36    Luke vii. 39 et seq.  Whence immediately the Lord, the remitter of sins and the receiver of the penitent, says, “Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he answered, saying, Master, say on. And the Lord, There was a certain creditor which had two debtors; one who had37    “Habebat,” but probably “debebat”—owed. five hundred pence, and the other fifty. When they had nothing to pay, he forgave both. And He asked, Which of these loved most?  And Simon answered, Assuredly he to whom he forgave most. And He added, saying, Seest thou that woman? I entered into thy house, thou gavest me no kiss; but she hath not ceased to kiss my feet; thou washedst not my feet, but she has washed them with her tears, and wiped them with her hair; thou didst not anoint my feet with oil, but she hath anointed them. Wherefore I say unto thee, Simon, that her sins are forgiven her.” Behold, the Lord grants the debt with His liberal kindness to both debtors; behold Him who pardons sins; behold the woman who was a sinner, penitent, weeping, praying, and receiving remission of her sins!

XI. Denique hoc in Evangelio comprobatur, ubi (Luc. VII) illa mulier peccatrix describitur, quae venit 1212D ad domum cujusdam Pharisaei, ubi erat Dominus vocatus cum discipulis, portans vas unguenti; quae stetit ad pedes Domini, et lacrymis suis lavit pedes ejus, et capillis extersit, et oscula infixit, ut excitaretur ille Pharisaeus et diceret: Hic si esset Propheta, 1213A sciret quae et qualis esset ista mulier quae eum tangit, quia peccatrix est (Luc. VII, 39-47). Unde incontinenti Dominus peccatorum remissor et poenitentium receptor, ait: Simon, habeo tibi aliquid dicere. At ille respondit dicens: Magister, dic. Et Dominus: Duo debitores erant cuidam foeneratori, unus qui habebat denarios quingentos, et alius quinquaginta: cum non haberent unde solverent, ambobus donavit. Et interrogavit: Quis illorum plus diligit? Et respondit Simon: Utique ille cui plus donavit. Et adjecit dicens: Vides istam mulierem? Intravi in domum tuam, osculum mihi non dedisti; haec autem non cessavit osculando pedes meos: pedes meos non lavasti; haec autem lacrymis suis lavit, et capillis extersit: oleo pedes meos non unxisti; haec autem unxit. Propter quod dico tibi, Simon, quia remittuntur 1213B illi peccata ejus. Ecce Dominus utrisque debitoribus larga sua pietate debitum concedit. Ecce delicta donantem. Ecce mulierem peccatricem poenitentem, flentem, deprecantem, et remissam peccatorum accipientem.