Good afternoon, Loved Ones,

"If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal." This is what Jesus says in response to a pharisee's criticism of him because he allowed a prostitute to crack open an expensive vial of oil on his feet and wipe it up with her hair and her kisses. The exchange reveals much about our sense of entitlement, our impulses to be hospitable and the understanding of our need for forgiveness. However, the link between forgiveness and gratitude is something to which I have not given much thought. Does the level of our sense of being forgiven correlate to our expressions of gratitude. 79 people are on this e-mail list, yet 8-10 people consistently respond. Could this somehow be related to our personal sense of forgiveness? Is this true, what Jesus says? Minimal forgiveness = minimal gratitude. And is the converse potentially true? Tremendous forgiveness = tremendous gratitude.

Luke 7:36-8:3 (The Message)
36-39 One of the Pharisees asked him over for a meal. He went to the Pharisee's house and sat down at the dinner table. Just then a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man was the prophet I thought he was, he would have known what kind of woman this is who is falling all over him."
40 Jesus said to him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Oh? Tell me."
41-42 "Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?"
43-47 Simon answered, "I suppose the one who was forgiven the most."
"That's right," said Jesus. Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, "Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn't quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn't it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal."
48 Then he spoke to her: "I forgive your sins."
49 That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: "Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!"
50 He ignored them and said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."

Today I give thanks for . . .

. . . the lessons in hospitality and gratitude I have receive almost daily from my brothers and sisters at the church.
. . . the many times I have been forgiven by the people I love.
. . . the great mercy of God shown in Jesus who asks me to forgive even when I don't feel like it, even when its my enemy.
. . . the reality that, thanks be to God, I am learning enemies are few and far between and mostly in my head.
. . . people like Telma and Martha and Greg and Kent and Maria and Jennifer and many, many others who daily break open their expensive canisters of precious perfumes and oils and offer them to the church, the neighborhood, the community and thereby offer them to Christ. Their understanding of, their 'standing under' forgiveness must be great indeed.

How has forgiveness made you more grateful? Gimme cinco!

Pastor Rick