He who is forgiven little, loves little.

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“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” 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.”

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I have to admit that there is something about this passage that strikes me the wrong way. My heart gets the message in it but my brain is slow to embrace the truth that there is a connection between forgiveness and love. I think that the issue is one of magnitude. My brain tries to convince me that my sins were not "all that bad" and the forgiveness God offers me not that great. But my heart knows the pride and arrogance that grips me and wants to control me.

Many self righteous individuals have a similar view of "sin". These are quick to believe that their sins are less than those who are prostitutes and thieves. And as they embrace such thinking their hearts wax hard and their loves grows cold because they do not understand the depth of their forgiveness. In truth, one who has been forgiven the sin of pride and arrogance has been granted a gift that outweighs all others. If only their heads could catch up to their hearts.

Open the eyes of my heart to understand the depth of my forgiveness Lord. And help me to walk in it.

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