Word to the Wise
Thursday, September 19, 2013 - Thursday in the 24th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Tim 4:12-16 and Luke 7:36-50]So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.
So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.
In my parish mission preaching, I try to emphasize the connection between love and forgiveness! The scene in today's gospel is one of the most powerful examples I could ever choose to illustrate that connection. The woman in the scene has the great faith that Jesus will forgive her and therefore she demonstrates that faith by her actions. She has come to experience the mercy of Jesus that extends to all sinners. The host at the dinner had kept Jesus "at arms length" and failed to show even some basic gestures of hospitality! The contrast between Simon the Pharisee and the woman could not have been clearer or greater!
We ask God to "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us!" How well do we forgive? We cannot claim to love if we cannot forgive! Good friendship - good marriage! - is founded on forgiving love, expressed many times over years of commitment. The same is true for our relationship to God. Jesus is the incarnation of God's forgiveness. How hospitable can we be to him? AMEN