Now Which of Them Will Love Him More?

This meditation is based on a passage for May 23, 2011 in the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: Luke 7:36-50

Reflection and Question: I trust all Christians agree that we are sinners who are forgiven through Jesus’ sacrificial love. We are all sinners but we do not approach Jesus in the same way. Jesus highlights this fundamental difference in this great teaching moment. His host for dinner, a righteous man, neglects the usual signs of honor to his guest while a woman scorned as a sinner washes Jesus’ feet with her tears. Jesus makes it clear that the woman’s faith and gratitude for forgiveness is preferable to the Pharisee who seems to forget his sinfulness. Who do you identify with, the woman or the host?

Prayer: God of all, You love both the Pharisee and the unnamed woman in this story of Jesus. Have mercy upon us as Jesus has upon both of them. Forgive our sins. Find our faith to be such that it saves us and opens us to Your peace. Amen.