Luke 7 : A Sinful Woman Forgiven
36 Then
one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s
house, and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city
who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the
Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and
stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet
with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed
His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. 39 Now
when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself,
saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of
woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”…..
“Simon, I
have something to say to you.”…..
, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you
gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and
wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no
kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You
did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with
fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are
many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the
same loves little.”
48 Then
He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 And
those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this
who even forgives sins?”
50 Then
He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
In today’s fast pace life, we often go through all the “right”
motions in regard to our religious life, yet somehow end up without that peace
and tranquility that we all yearn for.
It seems that no matter how much we try, the joy that Christ has
promised us appears so illusive; always appearing
just over the rainbow and out of reach.
We are left feeling internally anxious, spiritually dry, and the deep
dark spirit of the world begins to set in; oftentimes without us realizing it
before it is too late.
The above Gospel sheds light on a probable cause to this dilemma.
“ Simon (INSERT YOUR OWN NAME HERE),
I have something to say to you!!!”
From the moment I
came into your house, you’ve done nothing for me. A host is supposed to see
that his guests are taken care of yet you gave me no kiss, you anointed not my
head, nor my feet, and have not wept
over your sins! Doesn’t it strike you
strange that you, being a Pharisee, knowing all the scripture and regulations
and doing it all “right”, BUT yet you
hosted ME not, nor were your sins
forgiven and found no peace. Yet a supposed
“sinner” and outcast, who was not as smart as you and did nothing religiously “right”,
showed me more love , received forgiveness of her sins, and found peace to her soul?
At the
Corner of LOVE-FORGIVENESS- and PEACE!!!
Our Lord drives home this most beautiful circular interconnectivity
of love, forgiveness and peace. Forgiveness and love are integrally bound together
and produces that most transcendent Peace from above.
You see, her many, many sins were forgiven extremely fast. Why?
For she loved much. Why ? For she was forgiven much. And the loop goes round
and round.
In my personal life, I have unwittingly divorced active
love from forgiveness: I love little,
yet expect to be forgiven much, resulting in no peace of my soul.
For I am a great Pharisee you see: Perhaps if I am able to light enough candles,
or chant better, or say “longer” prayers then the peace will come. I am a living example of this Phariseeistical
approach; ultimately produces no good spiritual fruit in me.
For Jesus, my king and my God, certainly has knocked on
the door of my heart and I truly have opened it and invited Him in (as we all
should). Yet, as Simon the Pharisee, I have done little in regards to loving
Him (or my neighbor for that matter) and taking care of my guest. Then I wonder why I am left without peace.
So my brothers and sisters, let us Love much with Godly and genuine Love. That
quality love of which St. Paul speaks of: “Love suffers long, and is kind, love does
not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave
rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not
rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth, bears all things, believes all
things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” (1 Cor 13: 4-8)
For if you are like me, and are in desperate need of much
forgiveness and peace, then let us Love much and without limit. Let us put our faith into action, and not
only in words. Let us be doers of the
Word and not only hearers. For if we
claim that we truly live in the Spirit, then we must certainly walk in the
Spirit.
And then we
will all be together at the corner of LOVE-FORGIVENESS-and PEACE. And may God
grant this to be! Amen, Amen, Amen.
Your servant in our most compassionate King,
Ft. Spyridon
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