The Joy of Forgiveness
June 17, 2007

Readings for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1: 2 Sam. 12:7–10, 13

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 32:1–2, 5, 7, 11

Reading 2: Gal. 2:16, 19–21

Gospel: Lk. 7:36–8:3 or 7:36–50

Link to Readings

By Father Thomas Acklin, O.S.B.

We are all in debt, up to our ears! We have maxed out our credit cards, taken out all the loans for which we qualify, and bankruptcy is not an option! Like King David, who sinned, taking the wife of another man and then killing that man, we cannot undo what we have done. Yet Christ Jesus has redeemed us, and as St. Paul tells us in his Letter to the Galatians, He paid the debt we could never repay.

I may say, “But I have never committed adultery!” (Or maybe I have!) But I have done other things. Each one of us is aware of being a sinner. If I only look a short distance into my own heart, I know this! Yet why is it that I get on such a high horse and look down at the sins of others?

Do you suppose the people at the banquet table with Jesus were embarrassed at the behavior of the woman because she was so unrestrained in her contrition, so deeply yearning not only to be forgiven but also to show her profound gratitude at being forgiven? Did she not thereby remind them of their own sins and how much each one there should also be kneeling, weeping, and loving?

If only we could get over the guilt we often carry around and truly let out our tears, express our sorrow to those whom we have hurt and to the Lord, and let ourselves know we have been forgiven! Don’t we often turn away our eyes and mumble in response when someone tearfully tells us they are sorry? Yet how hard it can be for me to say I am sorry!

Jesus pointed out that the more I have been forgiven and the more I need forgiveness, the more grateful I ought to be that I am forgiven. Maybe today we can simply take that as our measure. How much have I done? How much have I been forgiven? How much, therefore, ought I forgive others?

How much have I loved? If I love little, I probably forgive little, and I probably have a hard time believing I am forgiven. Likewise, I probably find myself always judging others, if I have loved little. Yet Jesus came not merely to forgive sins but to bring love. Indeed, He is Love personified. That is why He can forgive sins, because He is the eternal Son of God, Love personified.

When Jesus said that the woman’s sins were forgiven because she had very great love, His listeners were doubly convicted, because they did not love much and they did not recognize Jesus Himself as BEING Love! Do we lack peace because we have stopped going to Confession or examining our conscience, because we just come to church and go to Communion without even thinking about what we are doing?

In a moment, we will once again receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. We are receiving the fruit of His self-gift of love on the Cross. As we do so, let us be on our knees in our hearts, let us cry out in our hearts with joy that indeed we are forgiven. May this healing sacrament of His Body and Blood and the healing Sacrament of Reconciliation bring us to the joys of everlasting life! Amen!

Fr. Thomas Acklin, O.S.B., S.T.D., Ph.D., resides at St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. He presently serves as a professor of theology and psychology at St. Vincent College and St. Vincent Seminary, and is a faculty member of the Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Institute and Foundation. Fr. Acklin has written a number of articles and recently published two books: The Unchanging Heart of the Priesthood and The Passion of the Lamb.

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