Daily Lesson for May 15, 2017

Today's Daily Lesson comes from Luke chapter 7 verses 36 through 47:

36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he canceled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

To know forgiveness is to extend forgiveness. To know mercy and compassion is to be merciful and compassionate.  To not know these things is to not extend them. 

When mercy and compassion are given to others and we find ourselves embittered or angered that somebody is being let off "scott-free", we should consider our own lives.  We too need grace and forgiveness. We too need God's compassion and mercy. When we harbor hostility towards these things given to others it is a sign of our own hostility towards the grace, mercy, and compassion we need in our own lives. 

Jesus said, "He who is forgiven little loves little."  Graceless people do not extend grace; grace can only be given by the graceful.  And love can only be given by those who know that they are loved; for as St. John said, "We love because God first loved us."