Reflect on your sin today

A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and sat down to table. There was a sinful woman in town who knew she was at table in the Pharisee's house. Carrying an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to wet his feet with her tears. Then he dried it with his hair, kissed it and anointed it with the ointment. Luke 7: 36-38

In part, this Gospel speaks of the Pharisee. If we continue reading in this passage we see the Pharisee become quite critical and condemn this woman and Jesus. Jesus rebuked him just as he had done so many times before with the Pharisees. But this passage is much more than a reproach from the Pharisees. After all, it's a love story.

Love is that love in the heart of this sinful woman. It is a love manifested in pain for sin and in profound humility. His sin was great and, consequently, so were his humility and his love. Let's take a look at that humility first. This can be seen from his actions when he came to Jesus.

First, "she was behind him ..."
Second, he fell "at His feet ..."
Third, he was "crying ..."
Fourth, He washed His feet "with his tears ..."
Fifth, he wiped His feet "with his hair ..."
Sixth, she "kissed" his feet.
Seventh, she "anointed" His feet with her expensive perfume.

Stop for a moment and try to imagine this scene. Try to see this sinful woman humbling herself in love before Jesus. If this full action is not an act of deep pain, repentance and humility, then it is difficult to know what else it is. It is an action that is not planned, not calculated, not manipulative. Rather, he is deeply humble, sincere and total. In this act, she cries out for mercy and compassion from Jesus and doesn't even need to say a word.

Reflect on your sin today. Unless you know your sin, you cannot manifest this kind of humble pain. Do you know your sin? From there, consider getting down, on your knees, bowing your head to the ground before Jesus, and sincerely begging for His compassion and mercy. Literally try to do it. Make it real and total. The result is that Jesus will treat you in the same merciful way that this sinful woman did.

Lord, I implore your mercy. I am a sinner and I deserve damnation. I recognize my sin. Please, in your mercy, forgive my sin and pour out your infinite compassion on me. Jesus I believe in you.