December 5. Luke 7:41-50
41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you;go in peace.”
It can be easy to see how it is that “notorious” sinners appreciate the extent of their forgiveness. We think criminals, and addicts have reason to be welcomed by God and appreciate a life rescued from harm.
On the other hand it may be more difficult for people who have been “good citizens, upstanding contributors in society” to believe they have been forgiven of much.
I have seen Bishop Baron quite a bit lately on various videos. More than once he has mentioned the four categories that can temp us to turn from God. They are not wrong in themselves. Indeed, they can seem positive. He says we are tempted by one or more of them. They are power, pleasure, wealth, and honor. They are negatives for our lives when we persue them over our relationship with God.
12 Step recovery encourages people to make a “fearless moral inventory.”
Take some time to consider which of these four temptations have come between you and your appreciation of God’s forgiveness.
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