So I tell you that all her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love. But anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Some other guests started saying to one another, “Who is this who dares to forgive sins?”
But Jesus told the woman, “Because of your faith, you are now saved. May God give you peace!”                          Luke 7:47-50 (CEV)
Today is a wonderful annual celebration in my spiritual life. It is the birthday of my oldest children, who also happen to be twins. [Side note: Twins, whether biologically identical or fraternal, are not 2 halves of one person. They are 2 distinct people who just happened to have been born on the same day, in the same family.] Like most parents, I suspect, this day brings memories to mind that cause smiles and a reflection on how quickly the years go by.
The process of birth is so foreign and scary, even to a medical person like me. It seems that your body is out of control and operating on some unknown ‘command center’ that does not disclose a pre-plan. Even in this age or technology and tests, there are still surprises that can occur.
I did not know I was having twins. I had three ultrasounds during my pregnancy and only one child was identified. Only one child was monitored during labor. It is a good thing that God could count and took care of the monitoring and determining that a c-section was a good idea.
Throughout my pregnancy I was also plagued with ideas that my child would be the object of some “punishment†for past sins. I have had other parents tell me that they, too, were “frightened†that something would “go wrongâ€.
Jesus tells me here that there is no sin too great for His forgiveness. In fact, He repeats that forgiveness and love so that the woman knows no matter what her sin(s) might have been, she is forgiven.
The Pharisees want to condemn and beat up on the woman. Why is that? Is it a human flaw that we must magnify another’s sin with our condemnation so that maybe no one will notice our great sin? Does it feel good to condemn someone? Or does it feel best to see someone restored?
I celebrate this day for the double portion (2 individual, extravagant blessings) that God heaped on me! I am no one special except in the eyes of my Father who looked at His bruised and battered child and said, “I am going to give her this day more than she could ever imagine!†And He continues to not only love me extravagantly but love each of them with His extravagant forgiveness and healing, too. Celebrate the day!
