True gratitude

Luke 7 : 36 - 50

.....which of them will love him more?....

This is surely one of the most striking passages in the whole Gospel of Luke. It is one of my favorites, and I am grateful to Dr Luke for recording it in his account of the life of Jesus.

What a scene it must have been! The stiff and pompous manner of the pharisee who invited Jesus more out of curiosity and perhaps to get the inside scoop on this rabbi who was gaining popularity with the people contrasts sharply with that of the woman of dubious character who pours out her affection in a public display of tears and anointing of Jesus' feet.

But what was of utmost importance was the motive that lay behind their actions. The pharisee was exposed by Jesus as one who 'loved little because he had been forgiven little'. He was, like many of us today, forgetful of his own sins, and therefore showed no gratitude and reverence for the mercy of God in his own life. He therefore focused on the one who was a more 'obvious' sinner.

Not being aware of our sin is dangerous. And it gets more subtle the further we progress in the spiritual life. At one point it might be easy to identify with the woman, perhaps at the time of our conversion. But as time goes on, our respectable Christian behavior takes control and we are in danger of becoming pharisees.

I am glad that from time to time, when on retreat we are invited to spend time looking again at our sinful tendencies. The acting out would have become more 'spiritual' and yet, by God's grace, if we desire, he will lead us to truly see ourselves.

Then we might gratefully experience again God's healing and cleansing and freedom. Like the unnamed woman we might want to pour out our love, in whatever way seems appropriate. Tears in such a situation is a gracious gift. We will then 'go in peace', holding to our love and gratitude close to our heart.