Forgiven and Accepted

24th Week in Ordinary Time - Thursday (20 September 2018)

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Luke 7:36-50

"Her many sins have been forgiven, or she would not have shown such great love."

During the party a rich Pharisee gave in honour of Jesus, a woman who had a bad name came in. She went to Jesus and waited on him; she wept, knelt at his feet and anointed them with oil.

Even before Simon, his host, could make any remark Jesus addressed him: “I tell you her sins, many as they are, have been forgiven her.” It is strange that he tells this to Simon, even before he says anything to the woman anointing his feet. That woman already knew. She is not forgiven because she is anointing Jesus’ feet, showing her love. She anoints Jesus’ feet because she is forgiven! “It is someone who is forgiven little who shows little love.” One who is forgiven more, loves more. Jesus says a forgiven person will know how to love.

From our own human experience, it is not difficult to grasp what happened here. It is the case of someone who is despicable in her own eyes. Everyone despises her. She is a nobody to others. She is not anointing his feet to be forgiven. In that case forgiveness would have depended on her initiative. She understood and felt that Jesus forgave her, that Jesus—unlike all the others—accepted her.

She knew that he was willing to recognize her as a person, notwithstanding all that had happened to her. She remained valid in his eyes. That is why she came in with her perfumes and oils. She anointed him because she loved him, and she loved him because she knew that he loved her.

This beautiful gospel story is for all of us. Jesus reveals a God who always and only loves. His love is a forgiving love. He doesn't wait for you to ask pardon. He always and everywhere forgives. His forgiveness doesn't depend on your initiative. But how many times have we shown diffidence in approaching God's mercy? How many times have we approached the wrong people for acceptance, and didn't go to Jesus who's ready to accept us without conditions? How many times have we thought it all depended on our initiative for God to forgive us? Unfortunately, most of us were taught that God would love you if and when you change. In fact, God loves you so that you can change.

Let's get this straight: God doesn't love you because you are good; God loves you because God is good. God doesn't forgive you if and when you are good; God forgives you because God is good.

God always and everywhere forgives. Let us today hear the words of Jesus saying, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."