"So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven because she has shown great love." (Luke 7:47)
Everyone sins. Even the seemingly most holy people among us sin. King David, God's Anointed One, sinned by killing Uriah the Hittite so that he could have uriah's wife, Bathsheba, as his own wife.
As humans, we often make wrong judgments, bad choices, usually out of pride, which is at the root of most of the patterns of evil thought (more commonly known in the Roman Catholic arena as the seven deadly sins.) We naturally want the best for ourselves, and sometimes what we think is the best for us leads us into temptation and sin.
Despite our tendency to sin, God continues to love us. God became human in the person of Jesus in order to show us and tell us that sin isn't the end, God will forgive us if we just ask for forgiveness. Today's readings remind us of this wonderful gift of God's forgiveness and unconditional love.
I believe that Jesus' statement about the woman's sins being forgiven "because she has shown great love" is the key to forgiveness. If we do not love others, we cannot forgive them; if we do not love ourselves, we cannot accept forgiveness. Forgiveness is an expression of love.
This is why the Sacrament of Reconciliation can be such a powerful experience. When we vocalize our sins and ask for forgiveness, we are opening up our hearts to be filled with God's love. If we have a good confessor, he will give us a penance that reflects an act of love, which will fill us and others with more love.
Forgiving and loving are not always easy. As we practice forgiveness, though, we will develop patterns of unconditional love in our lives and in our world.
Faith Chat Question: For what do you want God to forgive you? Whom do you need to forgive?
Faith Response: Practice forgiveness this week. Be quick to say "I'm sorry" and "I forgive you."
Pray: Loving God, thank you for the gift of forgiveness. Amen.
