O Forgiveness and love in “The sinful woman forgiven” in Luke 7:36-50

An ethical-theological, feminist and liberating reflection

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the theme in the passage from Luke 7:36-50. A feminist and liberating hermeneutical approach will be highlighted, emphasizing the importance of this approach for theological reflection. It is known that the issue of power and authority, in religious traditions, has often been presented in ways that deny the importance of women. In the practice of Jesus, women occupied a place of great importance in his apostolate. It is necessary to read and interpret these texts to demonstrate that in early Christianity the role of women was central. This reflection aims to demonstrate this approach through a three-part approach. In the first, the passage from Luke 7:36-50 and, in the second, an ethical-theological reading will be presented, interpreting the text from a vision that was gradually accepted and imposed itself in the Christian tradition. Finally, the third section will present an important analysis a liberating feminist hermeneutics perspective, highlighting the centrality of the position and role of women in early Christianity. The objective is to propose a theological re-examination of what it meant to be a woman in the context of Jesus and her role in the community called to be a disciple, and to draw inspiration from this to review the relations of power and authority.