Selected Sunday Scriptures- #150

In the Eastern Catholic Churches the liturgy today celebrates the life of St. Mary of Egypt. For those unaware, she was a harlot who underwent a conversion in Jerusalem and then went to the desert for the rest of her life, living as an ascetic until she died.

Here is the wiki article about her.

In honor of her, here is some scripture about women in similar positions who became children of God.

First, we have this account from the Book of Joshua:

And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, âGo, view the land, especially Jericho.â And they went, and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there. ^2 And it was told the king of Jericho, âBehold, certain men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.â ^3 Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, âBring forth the men that have come to you, who entered your house; for they have come to search out all the land.â ^4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them; and she said, âTrue, men came to me, but I did not know where they came from; ^5 and when the gate was to be closed, at dark, the men went out; where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.â ^6 But she had brought them up to the roof, and hid them with the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. ^7 So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords; and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.

^8 Before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, ^9 and said to the men, âI know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. ^10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. ^11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no courage left in any man, because of you; for the Lord your God is he who is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. ^12 Now then, swear to me by the Lord that as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my fatherâs house, and give me a sure sign, ^13 and save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.â ^14 And the men said to her, âOur life for yours! If you do not tell this business of ours, then we will deal kindly and faithfully with you when the Lord gives us the land.â

^15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she dwelt in the wall. ^16 And she said to them, âGo into the hills, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers have returned; then afterward you may go your way.â ^17 The men said to her, âWe will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours which you have made us swear. ^18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shall bind this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down; and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your fatherâs household. ^19 If any one goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we shall be guiltless; but if a hand is laid upon any one who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head. ^20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath which you have made us swear.â ^21 And she said, âAccording to your words, so be it.â Then she sent them away, and they departed; and she bound the scarlet cord in the window.

…

^22 And Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, âGo into the harlotâs house, and bring out from it the woman, and all who belong to her, as you swore to her.â ^23 So the young men who had been spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her; and they brought all her kindred, and set them outside the camp of Israel. ^24 And they burned the city with fire, and all within it; only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. ^25 But Rahab the harlot, and her fatherâs household, and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive; and she dwelt in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

(Joshua 2:1-21, 6:22-25)

Rahab is an ancestor of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ. So one can fall far, and yet achieve greatness in the eyes of God. Then we have this story from Luke:

^6 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Phariseeâs house, and sat at table. ^37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was sitting at table in the Phariseeâs house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, ^38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. ^39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, âIf this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.â ^40 And Jesus answering said to him, âSimon, I have something to say to you.â And he answered, âWhat is it, Teacher?â ^41 âA certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ^42 When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?â ^43 Simon answered, âThe one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more.â And he said to him, âYou have judged rightly.â ^44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, âDo you see this woman? I entered your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ^45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. ^46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. ^47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.â^{[d] 48Â} And he said to her, âYour sins are forgiven.â ^49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, âWho is this, who even forgives sins?â ^50 And he said to the woman, âYour faith has saved you; go in peace.â

(Luke 7:6-50)

Mary had sinned much, and being forgiven that, loved our Lord all the more. Let us then, who hopefully have not fallen as far as she, love greatly too. For much has been given to us that we can never deserve or repay.