I tell you that her sins, her many sins, must have been forgiven her, or she would not have shown such great love. It is the man who is forgiven little who shows little love.
Lk.7:47
Jesus confronts the judgement of Simon the Pharisee with Simon's own unrepentant and cold heart. The extravagant love demonstrated by the woman shows she has been forgiven extravagantly. The miserly love shown by Simon shows little forgiveness has been asked for or received.
Ask and you shall receive. Divine forgiveness is waiting for me, in spades. I simply need to ask for it.
However, there is a caveat. I will only be forgiven as much, or as little, as I forgive others. As C. S. Lewis wrote:
"It is in the Lord's Prayer, it was emphatically stated by our Lord. If you don't forgive you will not be forgiven. No exceptions to it."
This is where it gets hard. This is where I need divine grace to forgive, say, an unrepentant murderer of one of my children. Then, and only then, can I be forgiven.
Could I do that? No. But the power of the Holy Spirit could, through me.
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. Enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created and you shall renew the face of the earth.
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