Lover of Little

He doesn’t really see her.

She is “a sinner.”

And yet He lets her touch Him.

Her life exhibits the lust of her flesh,

The lust of her eyes,

And of pride in her heart – unwilling to bend.

But He does not see this.

Instead, He looks at me

With penetrating eyes and asks,

“Who will love more –

Those forgiven little or much?”

And the turmoil begins within.

Surely, my piety shows Him my devotion,

Aren’t my religious sacrifices,

And my good works impressive to Him?

At least I am not like her.

He looks at me deeply, sadly -

As if He hears my thoughts.

In His eyes I see the log in my own eye.

The one I have been unwilling to admit:

The lust of my eyes as I dehumanize her;

The lust of my own flesh judging them both;

And the destructive pride of my own life -

Dwarfing any sin within her.

I have merely kept it all hidden.

But it is hidden no longer.

His light on the log in my eye changes everything:

I weep in repentance for my own sin;

I lovingly wipe His feet with my own tears;

I pour my own prized oil over His head -

Annointing Him my Lord and my King.

By finally seeing the depth of my own sin,

I, too, can be forgiven of much, like her.

I can finally love Him who rescued me from darkness.

Now I know:

There is no one forgiven of little,

Only those who can’t see their own sin,

And who love little.

Patti McCarthy Broderick

Jan 2023

Jesus asked “Which of them will love him more?”

Simon replied “I suppose the one who had a bigger debt forgiven.” (Taken from Luke 7:36-50)