Accepting Forgiveness
AM Psalm 131, 132, [133] • PM Psalm 134, 135
Micah 3:1-8 • Acts 24:1-23 • Luke 7:36-50
First reading of today’s gospel I got side-tracked with logistics. How did the woman stand behind Jesus and wash his feet with her hair? Was Jesus sitting, standing or maybe reclining? I don’t think I could produce enough tears to bathe someone’s feet. And they would be mixed with a lot of snot! I wish someone would wash my feet and anoint them with oil.
Distractions aside, it’s a beautiful story: a woman whose “sins were many” shows great love for Jesus using the resources she has. She is forgiven, receives grace. I’m not sure whether Jesus forgave her before or after she washed and anointed his feet. In the story Jesus told, forgiveness came first, then love. “Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love.” It’s the following line that confuses me. “But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” First of all, what does Luke mean “to whom little is forgiven?” Does that speak of someone who has very few sins? It seems like that would be a person who loves much, if they have only a few sins. Or does it speak of someone who has many sins, but only a few are forgiven? I believe we all have a clean slate with God, who doesn’t forgive only some sins.
This brings me to a two-sided view of forgiveness. I think that knowingly carrying a burden of unforgiven sins means that someone (I, Cathy) would “love little” using the terminology Luke used. From God’s side forgiveness is easy. From our side knowing and accepting that our sins are forgiven, that we have God’s love and mercy without earning it, is much more difficult. The woman in Luke’s gospel knew and accepted that her sins were forgiven. That gave her the freedom to love freely and extravagantly. For me, I struggle to believe that God accepts and forgives me and all my sins, and therefore I “love little” compared to what would be possible if I fully accept forgiveness and mercy.
Written by Cathy Campbell
Cathy is a semi-retired professional counselor. She advocates for marginalized groups, especially LGBTQ people. She makes a joyful, and sometimes tuneful, sound in St. Paul’s choir.