Wrong Way Love

How much forgiveness is in you?

Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." - Luke 7:47

In today's Gospel, Jesus offers forgiveness to a woman who had many sins.  He argues that the greater the debt one forgives, the more the debtor lives the one who forgives the debt.

So, it stands to reason that the more we want to be loved, the more we should forgive.

But that isn't our motive, is it?  We don't seek opportunities to forgive debts and sins against us just to be loved, right?

And we don't do good to gain favor with those we help, do we?

There was a time when I was a lot younger, when I thought that was a good idea, to help others so they would be grateful.  It was a way of getting closer, and once they saw how good I was, they would like me.

I know it seems silly now, but I think it is a path a good number of us go down when we are young and vulnerable.  And I am pretty sure it is not the approach Jesus is advocating here.

It is one thing to do good out of love, and it is another to do good for love.

When the woman anointed Jesus, she did it out of love and Jesus responded with love.  That, I believe, is the real lesson here.  It is love that does the healing.

So, consider this.

We accept what the Pharisee couldn't, that Jesus had the authority to forgive the woman's sins.  But what about all of us?

I agree that we cannot forgive sins against anyone but us, for it is only what is done against me that I can forgive directly, but I can pray for forgiveness for everything else, can't I?

So, if the woman had come up to me, would I have done that?

For all the things I cannot directly solve, I can pray.  That, I believe is the right way to show love.  Let us pray together, and bathe ourselves in God's love.

More to come...