How Much Love?

Nobody likes to think they are cold without love for others. Everyone likes to think their love is exemplary. Others should take notes of the way they love. If you don’t think so, you are the problem. You are just jealous because they don’t love you. Sound familiar?

At that time, one of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house, and took his place at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “What is it, Teacher?” “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Luke 7.36-50

Today’s lesson from the Gospel According to Saint Luke is a condemning assessment of the way we choose to love. The problem with the lesson today isn’t that we deny the lack of love we show others. The problem is we don’t deny the lack of love we show for God.

We admit there are people we choose not to love. For a variety of reasons, none of which are valid for our Christian calling, can create animosity between people. Here’s the thing about the way we love God. The way we choose to love others reveals how much we love God.

Every time we choose not to love others, we reveal our lack of love for God. The Pharisee was so indignant to the sinful woman that he had forgotten how to love, so Christ decided to teach him a lesson. It was like Christ said, “You’ve done nothing for me. She’s done everything.”

When we consider just how much God has forgiven us, we can’t help but love Him in return, but our love for Him doesn’t stop with Him. Our love for God, if it is real, transfers to His people. That was the lesson the Pharisee received from Christ that day.

If we want to love God, but our love can’t extend to others, then we don’t love Him at all. We think we love Him. I’m sure of that. Even the most basic human relationships reveal love. We love what people we love, love.

Since God loves every human, then our love for God if it is real, would extend to whomever God loves. That’s just loving God like every other human relationship. The only logical conclusion is we don’t feel forgiven by God. Maybe we think God loves us because He is forced to love us.

Maybe we don’t realize how much God has in fact forgiven us. I invite you today to contemplate the man ways God has forgiven you. You may not have confessed it, but that fact that He died for you means He forgives you. Spend today taking a tally of forgiveness.

Then during your evening prayers, ask God to help you understand His love for you, how He has forgiven you, and how you can learn to love others. Then commit to loving better tomorrow. For today, spend the day observing.