Misericordias Domini Wednesday - Devotion in Exile

Lection for Misericordias Domini - Wednesday
Exodus 34:29-35:21     Luke 7:36-50
Jesus goes to a Pharisee’s home because He was invited to do so. While there, a “woman in the city who was a sinner” came to the house and washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and anointed them with perfume. In the meantime, the Pharisee who had invited him said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”

Jesus knew, He knew it full well. Here is Jesus, very God of very God, the Son of the Father, the One who spoke things into existence,…AND…who was present in human flesh for one single purpose. What is that purpose? He came to give His life unto death to pay the ransom owed by sinners. So yes, Jesus knew her sins, and more to the point, He knew Simon’s.

Jesus then gives the teaching of the moneylender who forgave debts. Which debtor is more grateful of a forgiven debt? The obvious answer is the one whose debt was larger. We might understand it better, the one who knew that they could not pay the debt without great difficulty – or who might never be able to pay it. He then points out that the one who is forgiven little, loves little; while the one who is forgiven much, loves much.

You know the cost of your forgiveness! It was the very life of Christ – the very life of the beloved Son of God – given unto death upon the cross. Those who understand their sinfulness the most, appreciate the gift the greatest. Those who have the greatest appreciation of the gift of God’s love in the person of Christ Jesus, will also be the ones who love – both God and their neighbors.

God gave us His commandments not to brow-beat us into doing them with threats and terror, although that is one use of them. His Law also rightly shows us our disobedience to them so that we live a life of repentance. But His Law also declares to us that this is how those who understand the love of God in Christ Jesus, are in turn to love God and their neighbor.

What does love look like?
Love fears and trusts in God above all things.
Love uses God’s name in salutary manner, calling upon it in every trouble, prayer, praise, and to give thanks.
Love holds preaching and His Word sacred, gladly hearing it and learning it.
Love honors parents and other authorities
Love helps our neighbor in their bodily needs.
Love leads a chaste and decent life in word and deed, honoring spouse even before knowing who it may be.
Love helps the neighbor improve and protect their property and income.
Love always speaks well of, and defends their neighbor.
Love cares for our neighbor home, belongings and means of procuring making a living.

When next you say to someone, “I love you!”, consider whether they are words that you say because of a feeling in your heart, or whether you have truly done so.

Let us pray:           Lord God, heavenly Father, you did not withhold Your Son from us, but in Your love gave Him as the sacrifice for my sin. Let Your love have it’s way with my heart, move me to love You, as You have loved me and all mankind, and to love others in the same manner in which you have loved me. Amen.

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