One who is forgiven the most responds the most

The Gospel Reading for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Luke 7:36-8:3) is summarized in Jesus' words to Simon, his Pharisee host: "...her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love" (7:47). That is precisely what David says in Psalm 32 – which is also the alternate Psalm for this Sunday: "Happy are those whose transgressions are forgiven and whose sin is put away! Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt..."

Think of David's crimes in the First Reading. Then look at his confession in Psalm 51: "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight..."

Even Ahab who "did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him (1 Kings 16:30), and compared to no other "who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord...(and) behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols..." (1 Kings 21:25-26) had God's forgiveness when he repented (1 Kings 21:27-29).

Some people still find it difficult to find reconciliation between David's sins – especially with regard to Uriah's murder – and his place in history as the greatest king of Israel, and, lest we forget, the house from whom Jesus comes. Yet, that is precisely the point in these readings. It is about God, love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness – to be seen in God's perspective.

These surpass human understanding. In the Epistle Reading from Galatians 2:15-21 Paul says they come "not by doing the works of the law" but through Christ. He further says, "...it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me".

Tough to grasp and contemplate but we are called to imitate God, especially in our relationship with one another.