There exists potential for confusion in the order of events with forgiveness and love in the Gospel today. To my mind this is understandable. In verse 47 Jesus says of the woman, who has just anointed his feet with ointment and her tears, that: "Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love." It is clear from this that the capacity to show love follows forgiveness. Yet, Jesus then goes on to say: "Your sins are forgiven." (verse 48) In this way he implies that forgiveness follows love. Is such a distinction necessary or helpful? Is it replaying some of the controversies of faith versus works that have blighted theology over the centuries? The Catholic tradition is always open to holding various attributes of a reality at the same time within giving one or the other priority, for example, faith and works; Tradition, Magisterium and Scripture; Eucharist as meal and sacrifice, etc. What we do know is that God has loved us first. It is only because of his love that we are able to reciprocate to Him as well as to show love to others. In this way we can see that in the Gospel grace has built on grace. The love of God by which the woman is forgiven stirs her to show love herself and this allows for further forgiveness and healing to take place. It is up to us however to respond to grace and cooperate with it so that its effects may be magnified in us and in others to whom we show love and forgiveness.
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