ACC ~ Luke 7 v49 - 50

JESUS SHOWS HE IS THE PROPHET BY FORGIVING HER SINS

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: He came that he might forgive the debtors much and little and show mercy upon small and great, that there might be no one whatsoever who did not participate in his goodness. As a pledge and plain example of his grace, he freed that unchaste woman from her many iniquities by saying, “Your sins are forgiven you.” A declaration such as this is truly worthy of God! It is a word joined with supreme authority. Since the law condemned those that were in sin, who, I ask, was able to declare things above the law, except the One who ordained it? He immediately both set the woman free and directed the attention of that Pharisee and those who were dining with him to more excellent things. They learned that the Word being God was not like one of the prophets, but rather far beyond the measure of humanity although he became man. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 40. [1]

[1] CGSL 171-72*.

HE FORGIVES REPEATEDLY

ORIGEN: A first forgiveness is the one by which we are baptized “for the remission of sins.” [1] A second remission is in the suffering of martyrdom. The third is the one that is given through alms. The Savior says, “But nevertheless, give what you have and, behold, all things are clean for you.” A fourth forgiveness of sins is given for us through the fact that we also forgive the sins of our brothers. The Lord and Savior says, “If you will forgive from the heart your brothers’ sins, your Father will also forgive you your sins. But if you will not forgive your brothers from the heart, neither will your Father forgive you.” [2] He taught us to say in prayer, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” [3] A fifth forgiveness of sins is when “someone will convert a sinner from the error of his way.” Divine Scripture says, “Whoever will make a sinner turn from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” A sixth forgiveness comes through the abundance of love. The Lord himself says, “Truly I say to you, her many sins are forgiven because she loved much.” The apostle says, “Because love will cover a multitude of sins.” [4] There is still a seventh forgiveness of sins through penance, although admittedly it is difficult and toilsome. The sinner washes “his couch in tears,” [5] and his “tears” become his “bread day and night.” [6] HOMILIES ON LEVITICUS 2.4.5. [7]

[1] Lk 11:41.

[2] Mt 6:14-15.

[3] Mt 6:12.

[4] 1 Pet 4:8.

[5] Ps 6:6 (6:7 LXX).

[6] Ps 42:3 (41:4 LXX).

[7] FC 83:47**.

ONE LOVES MORE WHO HAS BEEN FORGIVEN MORE

JOHN CASSIAN: It happens that, whatever state of life a man has reached, he sometimes can offer pure and devout prayer. Even in the lowliest place, where a man is repenting from fear of punishment and the judgment to come, his petitions can enrich him with the same fervor of spirit as the man, who attained to purity of heart, gazes upon God’s blessing and is filled with an overwhelming happiness. As the Lord said, “The one who knows he has been forgiven more begins to love more.” CONFERENCES 2.9. [1]

[1] LCC 12:221*.

CHRIST IS OUR LOVE WHO FORGIVES SINS

AMBROSE: Christ is our love. Love is good, since it offered itself to death for transgressions. Love is good, which forgave sins. Let our soul clothe herself with love of a kind that is “strong as death.” [1] Just as death is the end of sins, so also is love, because the one who loves the Lord ceases to commit sin. For “charity thinks no evil and does not rejoice over wickedness, but endures all things.” [2] If someone does not seek his own goods, how will he seek the goods of another? [3] That death through the bath of baptism, [4] through which every sin is buried, is strong and forgives every fault. The woman in the Gospel brought this kind of love. The Lord says, “Her many sins have been forgiven her, because she has loved much.” The death of the holy martyrs is also strong. It destroys previous faults. Since it involves a love not less than theirs, death that is equal to the martyrs’ suffering is just as strong for taking away the punishment of sins. ISAAC, OR THE SOUL 8.75-76. [5]

[1] Song 8:6.

[2] 1 Cor 13:5-7.

[3] 1 Cor 13:5.

[4] Tit 3:5.

[5] FC 65:59-60*.