"Forgiven Much" - Luke 7:36-48 - June 17, 2001

A young boy and his dad were returning home from a shopping mall, and the boy had acted badly, running off, being uncooperative, wanting this and that, etc. He could tell his father was in a bad mood, and he tried to broach the subject of his behavior.

"When we ask God to forgive us when we are bad," he asked, "He does, doesn’t he?" "yes, he does," his father replied. "And when he forgives us, he doesn’t remember them anymore, right?" the son asked. "That’s right, said his father, growing more charitable. "It’s like the song we sing at church, that God buries our sins in the deepest sea."

The boy was silent for awhile. Then he said, "I’ve asked God to forgive me, and now I want to ask you to promise me something." "What’s that, son?" said his father, pleased at the display of contrition. "I want you to promise that when we get home you won’t go fishing for those sins, okay?" (from God’s Little Lessons on Life for Dad, Honor Books)

My children have faithfully remembered me on father’s day and I always appreciate the gifts and cards they provide. I believe that what they really desire more than anything is not so much a "thank you" but approval, and sometimes forgiveness. The young boy wanted forgiveness from his father. Children need to know they are loved, especially when they make mistakes.

There is a fundamental principle taught in this story which links forgiveness with love. Our capacity to love is directly related to our ability to receive God’s forgiveness and grace. Perhaps it is easier to receive God’s forgiveness when we know we are sinful. Simon thought of himself as pious and righteous and he loved little because he experienced so little of God’s forgiveness.

It has always amazed me why so many people flock to fundamentalist churches that put much emphasis on sin and forgiveness. Perhaps it is because these folks know they are sinful and therefore they are able to appreciate the joy of forgiveness they are experiencing for the very first time.

I believe that those who have been raised in the church may find it harder to be forgiven than those who don’t experience God’s grace until later in life. When you don’t have a clue as to your true sinfulness you cannot fully appreciate the forgiveness God gives.

Jesus was demonstrating to the Pharisee what true forgiveness is. But, Simon was focused on the woman’s reputation rather than the devotion she showed toward Jesus. The woman, who had nothing, used her own tears to wet her hair and wipe is feet. Meanwhile, Simon (the Pharisee), who had everything, didn’t even bother to give him water for his feet, which was customary in those times.

In other words, Simon’s sin was his lack of hospitality. Who among us would think of holding back on hospitality as being sinful? This past week I visited a parishioner at Lima memorial Hospital. I always like to go there since the entrance area includes coffee, tea and cold water. Its a very friendly and inviting atmosphere.

How hospitable are we? We live in a world in which we are mostly focused on our own agendas. People don’t wave at you when they pass you on the road anymore. They are too busy talking on their cell phones. Televisions and radios are constantly on, making it hard for neighbors to have conversations.

You know how you hate to receive those phone calls from tele-marketers during a meal? It is just as annoying when you encounter a member of the church and they ask you some question about the business of the church before they greet you. "Nice to see you too..." as it were.

I get very annoyed when I am trying to leave an elevator and there is a person trying to get on before I am free. It seems that everyone in our society is in a big hurry, more likely just too focused on themselves. Just like Simon, who was quick to make judgment about the "woman of the city," we too are quick to see the faults of others before we realize our own. Only minutes after I had been working on this sermon Wednesday afternoon I noticed a teacher leaving our church parking lot. She was driving a car I am interested in so I immediately asked her to tell me about it. It was several minutes into our conversation before I had realized I had not introduced myself or given her a chance to tell me who she was. Way to go, Simon!

It is not so much that we are "sinful" human beings who go around doing bad things. It is our attitudes of "me first" or making judgments about others without considering our own shortcomings that causes us to "love little" and therefore "forgive little."

After Robinson Crusoe was shipwrecked and stranded on a desert island, he began to take stock of his condition. He drew up two columns, in one he noted what he called the evils and in the other he wrote the good that he faced.

He was cast onto a desolate island, but he was still alive, unlike the rest of his ship’s company. He had no human companions, but he was not starving. He was wearing only rags, but with a warm climate he did not need more. He had no means of defending himself, but he saw no wild beasts. He had no way of preparing food, but the disabled ship had drifted close enough to shore that he could retrieve the necessary provisions.

By the time Crusoe finished his notes, he concluded that there are no situations in life so miserable but that one could find something for which to be grateful. The woman was grateful, and she acknowledged that by paying devotion to Jesus. She never ceased to kiss his feet and she anointed them with oil. "Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little loves little."

Our attitudes, no matter how subtle, can keep us from realizing the forgiveness God gives. At the same time, holding back love inhibits our ability to be recipients of God’s grace. Since Jesus forgave the "bad" people of society, he forgives us as well. He does in fact forgive us for lacking in hospitality. Nevertheless, he wants us to realize that our loving attitudes are in direct relationship to our realization of forgiveness.

I had the opportunity to hear Bill Cosby’s speech to the graduates at Ohio State last week. In that speech he told the graduates that when they got their first job to interview the custodian. He wanted them to appreciate the wisdom and experience of the "servants" of society. When we humble ourselves and be willing to accept the least among us we are able to then fully understand the love and forgiveness of God.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio