Love and Forgiveness

In the Gospel reading today, Jesus remains ambiguous about the relation between love and forgiveness. Is there a causal relationship? If there is, which is the cause and which is the consequence?

It was all about a woman who anointed Jesus in a house. Some such things had actually happened in Jesus' public ministry. However, different Evangelists made use of the event and reported it in different manners.
Mark and Matthew focused on the anointment as a preparation for the burial of Jesus. Jesus had made a stir in his entry into Jerusalem. He had clashed with the Jewish authority in the Temple. The feast of Passover was near. His death was imminent. The incident took place in such a background. When people saw what the woman did to Jesus, they criticized the way money was wasted (Mark 14:3-9, Matthew 26:6-13).
Luke mentions a similar incident in which he focuses on love and forgiveness (Luke 7:36-50). It took place in the early phase of Jesus' public ministry. Jesus had had conflicts with the Pharisees and teachers of the law. Yet, a Pharisee invited him to dine in his house. Perhaps he intended to bring reconciliation between his party members and Jesus.
There are two things in common. Firstly, the host was Simon (Mark 14:3, Luke 7:40). The Simon in Mark had been a leper while Luke's was a Pharisee. It could be both. Then, Jesus had healed a Pharisee of leprosy. In giving thank to Jesus, he invited Jesus to dine in his house. Secondly, the woman carried an expensive vast of ointment. In both cases, the woman was of questionable character, a known sinner.

Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, 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." (Luke 7:39)
The issue was not a waste of money, but the integrity of Jesus. The Pharisee questioned the integrity of Jesus because in his narrow mind, a righteous person should not mix with sinners, not to mention allowing the sinful woman to caress him in public.
In his homily, Fr. Martin brought this into focus. Many of us know in theory what truth and charity are. But we fail to apply them in our daily life. The Pharisees knew very well the law. They knew that they should not commit any sins. They knew that they should love their neighbours as themselves. They knew that they should not mix with sinners.  They knew ... Whatever they know, Jesus knows too. But Jesus knows deeper. Jesus knows that God loves us and gives us laws to guide our lives. Law is not meant to define sins but to steer us away from sins. God loves us all, be us saints or sinners. He wants us all to lead a life of holiness. When we fail to do so, God gives us chances. The Pharisees have missed this point. They do not give sinners chances because they have cut the link between truth and love. Jesus tried to help them rebuild this link. He told Simon a story.
"A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?" (Luke 7:41-42)
Simon's answer was cautious.
Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more." (Luke 7:43a)
Simon understood Jesus well. He was able to anticipate Jesus' teaching. But he still had reservation in accepting sinners. Jesus did not.

Jesus confronted Simon with the contrast between him and the sinful woman.
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 7:44-47)
Who loves God more, Simon or the sinful woman?
Of course, Simon loves God, but not as much as the sinful woman. His self-righteousness had prevented him from seeing his own sins, his need of God's mercy. Simon has blocked himself from receiving God's unconditional love. Likewise, many of us have made similar mistakes. We have not loved God enough.

So, what is the relation between love and forgiveness?
From Jesus' parable, it seems that we have received forgiveness and therefore, we return love. But from Jesus' conclusion, it seems that the more we love, the more we are forgiven in return. Therefore, the relation between love and forgiveness is not a simple causal one, but a dynamic one. Love and forgiveness reinforce each other. But one thing is certain. God loves us first. He forgives so as to initiate our love. In return, we generate more forgiveness from God and more love from men.

Dear Lord, we have not loved enough. Our world is in need of Your love. Help us generate more love in our world. Amen.