The Maxi and the Mini Sinners

Text: Luke 7: 36-50

Reflection and Question: The story of a woman anointing Jesus appears in all four Gospels (Mt 26:6-13, Mk 14:3-9 and Jn 12:1-8) but Luke is the only one who sees in it a lesson about sin, forgiveness and love. The host is the mini-sinner Jesus speaks of when he says, “he who is forgiven little, loves little.” The woman, a known sinner but unknown by name, is the maxi-sinner who loves much — and her faith saves her. Martin Luther, too, may have reflected this lesson in his comment: “Sin boldly, but believe more bolder still!” Are you a maxi or a mini sinner, or a little of both?

Prayer: Friend Jesus, we imagine in our mind’s eye Your accepting our invitation to dine at our house. Find in us a gracious host, find in us a sinner who wets Your feet with our tears, find in us much love and faith. Forgive us our sins, we pray. Amen.

This meditation is based on the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).