The Sins of Others

We spend more time than is ever appropriate judging the sins of others. ‘Good’ Christians claim we are judging the sin and not the person, and only God knows the truth of that claim. In the meantime, we are consumed with noticing the sins of others and ignoring our own sins.

We are blinded by the sins of others, not because they are many, but because we presume them to be to worse than our own sins. Today’s Gospel lesson is another example of how we ignore our failings, but love to point out others’, and then expect God to do something.

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

Here’s the thing. Beyond the commandment not to judge, there is another reason we should stop focusing on the sins of others. We have our own sins to worry about. The Pharisee in today’s reading clearly didn’t think he had ANY sins to worry about, so he focused on others.

What struck me today was ‘how’ the Pharisee knew her sins in the first place. Did he participate in them? Had she come to him for guidance and he ignored her? If she was such a great sinner, how did she come to be in his house in the first place? Hmmmmmm interesting questions.

The Gospel doesn’t answer them, so we are forced to look just at what Christ is saying today. God implies the woman had more sins than the Pharisee which is why she was so grateful to God, and he was nonchalant by Christ’s presence.

This is what happens when we stop interrogating our own hearts. We ignore our ‘small’ sins that eventually cause us to ignore God. We get used to the ‘smooth sailing’ and think we are ‘shoo-in’ for heaven. Well, if heaven is like today’s reading, we are in danger of not ‘getting’ in.

The Fathers often talk about paying close attention to the ‘small sins’ because they become big sins. Sin is a slippery slope. The longer we allow sin, no matter how small, to continue it becomes more difficult to climb out of the mud.

It never helps thinking we are better than others. That is the point of today’s reading. The Pharisee had every reason to be thankful to God for being forgiven. Instead of thanking God and working to eliminate his own sins, he wasted time judging the woman.

I’ll grant you this. If we notice someone who we ‘think’ has greater sins than we do, instead of judgement, we should be extra grateful to God. IF their sins are greater, it should remind us that God forgives ‘even their sins’ so He will forgive our sins. The focus is always on our sins.

Of course, we only know what others tell us about themselves. Let’s face it. We are never honest with others about our sins. What makes us think others are being honest with us about their sins. Since only God knows, it is always best to leave the sins of others to God.