Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Luke 7:44-47 (NLT)
Dear Lord Jesus, I’d do well do meditate on this passage once a week, at least. Because nothing is more daily that the call to forgive; nothing is more scandalous than the way you forgive; and nothing is more important than the way that I love.
I see everywhere in this passage, Lord. I’m Simon the self-righteous Pharisee. I often see people through the lens of criticism and judgment—especially if their actions have hurt or inconvenienced me; or if they struggle with things different than my struggles. I own and grieve this, Jesus. Forgive me of my arrogance and hair-trigger self-righteousness.
I’m also this broken woman at your feet. My sins are just as ugly and numerous as hers, just not as public or notorious. I believe this, Jesus; by your Holy Spirit, convince me even more that it’s really true. My theology affirms that you have forgiven all of my sins—past, present, and future. I praise and bless you for this good news. But I want the impulse of my heart to match the truth of my creed. Jesus, help me, change me, and free me.
I truly want to forgive others as you have forgiven me, Lord. But sometimes that is so hard. I want to love you much you because you love me more than I can possibly imagine. May the tears of gratitude I offer at your feet become the water of mercy with which I wash the feet of fellow sinners. Grant me big grace, Jesus, especially for the people who have caused me the deepest hurt, greatest shame, and lingering pain. So very Amen I pray, in your kind and powerful name.