And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 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. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (Luke 7:40-47 ESV).
True happiness is always bundled up with gratitude. Gratitude is always a response. Gratitude depends not on ignoring what’s going on in our lives, but in choosing to see and accept the deepest reality about our existence. Jesus’ encounter with the woman “who lived a sinful life” demonstrates this beautifully in our reading today. You see, the Pharisee had swept all of his sins under the rug of self-righteousness and self-sufficiency. He chose to ignore the truth of his brokenness and his deep need for forgiveness. His ingratitude produced a toxic bitterness that caused him to completely miss the fact that the Savior of the world and of his soul was standing right in front of him.
The woman didn’t miss that. There could be no sweeping of sins under the rug for her. Everyone seemed to know about them anyway. So, acknowledging her brokenness and receiving the forgiveness Jesus offers, her heart and her hands poured out her gratitude.
It’s too easy to think of ourselves as being “pretty good.” After all, we’ve never really done anything as bad as some folks. “They” are a lot worse than we are… aren’t they? God simply doesn’t measure our sin. It is all destructive to our relationship with Him. The Apostle Paul reminds us we are all sinners and have earned death as a result (cf. Romans 6:23). Just that truth alone ought to humble us enough to cry out our praise and thanksgiving to Him. Continue today to express your gratitude. While we were once unforgiven, we now have eternal life through Him!