Which of them will love him more

   

One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to a meal. When he arrived at the Pharisee’s house and took his place at table, a woman came in, who had a bad name in the town. She had heard he was dining with the Pharisee and had brought with her an alabaster jar of ointment. She waited behind him at his feet, weeping, and her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them away with her hair; then she covered his feet with kisses and anointed them with the ointment.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who this woman is that is touching him and what a bad name she has.’

Luke 7:36 - 39

When we live long enough and have met enough people, we often develop of sense of who people are – whether they are trustworthy, honest, worth knowing, kind, generous or not. It’s our ability to judge people for want of better words. We might use our judgment when choose to befriend a newcomer or even withhold judgment to allow someone to prove themselves. Our judgment of others is ultimately to ensure we are safe and surrounded by those whom we can trust – who will share our values. None of us wants to be seen as judgmental. But we do want to be seen as good judges – of character, of companions, of partners.

How often have we changed our minds about people we meet or work with? How often are we delighted or surprised by an acquaintance’s loyalty, support or encouragement that we didn’t expect?

Only the most hardened among us would not admit that our sense of judgment isn’t perfect. Well, let’s face it, it isn’t. We make mistakes. We use all of our experience and knowledge and we make the call. Whether or not we admit to ourselves or to others that our choices haven’t met the test of good or right judgment is moot.

In this story from Luke, Jesus forgives the sins of a woman who kisses his feet. Simon the Pharisee is shocked that Jesus doesn’t know that the woman is disreputable. Jesus picks up that Simon is scandalized, and tells him a parable where two debtors are forgiven by their creditor, one who owes 50 denarii and other who owes 500 denarii: Which of them will love him more?’ [asked Jesus]. ‘The one who was pardoned more, I suppose,’ answered Simon. Jesus said, ‘You are right.’ (Luke 7:42 – 43).

Jesus, it appears, was unfussed about how people judged him and those whose company he kept. He had an integrity that was immovable. He had a preference for the poor, the hungry, and those excluded because they believe in him (Luke 6:20 – 22) – and this included tax collectors and prostitutes. They were not the ‘right kind’ of people. Many indeed required greater forgiveness, because as Jesus acknowledges – Who will love him more? And let him be the judge of that.