The Feast Of A Pentitent Woman

Phariseus ad manducandum vocat Christum: quid ibi quaerit mulier non vocata? Claustra domus non prorumpit extraneus, convivii secretum non praesumit non invitatus intrare, cibos paratos relaxandis mentibus post laborem perturbare non audet arbiter luxuriosus; et quid est qoud haec mulier ignota, immo male nota, onusta luctibus, plena lacrymis, clamosa planctu, nescio janitore, nullo conscio, ipso ignorante pastore, domus aditus percurrit omnes, transit totas ministerorum catervas, ipsum convivii pervolat ad secretum, et facit domum laetitiae domum lamentationis et planctus? Fratres, non rogata venit illa, sed jussa; intravit exhibita, non praesumens: ipse sic fecit eam sisti sibi, qui illam coelesti sententia jussit absolvi. Denique dum Pharisaeus veste clarus, primus in sigmate, in ipsis oculis Christi lumens, epulis homini, non Deo placiturus, festivus infunditur, venit mulier, et venit retro, quia reus animus post tergum stat ad veniam, quia per culpam novit se vultus fiduciam perdidisse; venit satisfacura Deo, non homini placitura cum venit; venit pietatis illa, non voluptatis exhibitura convivium. Denique et paenitentiae ponit mensam, fercula compuncitonis apponit, panem doloris infert; potum lacrymis temperat in mensura, et ad delicias deitatis totas pulsat cordis sui et corporis symphoniam.  Sanctus Petrus Chrysologus, Sermo CXLVI

The Pharisee called Christ to dine; what did the woman who was not called seek there? A stranger does not burst into a closed house, one uninvited does not presume to enter into inner rooms, some self indulgent observer does not dare disturb food prepared to relax minds after labour; why then does this unknown women, or rather this woman of ill repute, weighed down with grief, full of tears, crying aloud, with the doorkeeper unaware, with no one knowing, even the shepherd himself, why does she run through the doors of the house, pass through the groups of servants, fly to the inner room itself, and make of a joyful house one of lamentation and groaning? Brethren, she did not come unasked, she was ordered. She did not enter to be presented by presumption. And he who made her present to himself is he who ordered her to be forgiven by heavenly judgement. While the Pharisee in bright clothes reclined in the first seat, shining in the very eyes of Christ, taking his pleasure in the feast of men and not God, utterly absorbed in it, the woman came, and she came behind, because a guilty soul stands behind for pardon because by guilt it knows it has lost the confidence to stand before the face, and when she came she came to make satisfaction to God. She did not come to please men, she came on account of piety, and not to serve a meal of pleasure. Thus she set a table of repentance, served dishes of compunction, watered drinks with tears in right measure, and to the full delight of God struck music from her own heart and body. Saint Peter Chrysologus, from Sermon 146