More than we can repay

 

It’s such a human tendency to rank and compare.  To increase their student bodies, colleges and universities hope for high rankings and publicize their top ratings compared to other schools.  We celebrate high rankings of our sports teams.  Successful businesses use rankings and comparisons and urge competitiveness in motivating their employees for better results.   

The scriptures I reflect on today insert a Jesus-focused perspective on rankings.  St. Paul’s letter to Timothy reminds us not to take a ranking by someone else to heart to our detriment.  Stay vigilant, set a good example, keep teaching and learning.  The letter to Timothy also includes an essential discipline for staying focused and vigilant in trying times – remembering the gifts we’ve been given by our faith community and our loving God.  St. Paul also reminds us that using these gifts and persisting despite how others may rate us, not only saves us, but also saves others around us (1 Timothy 4:12-16).  We inspire one another.  The scriptures repeatedly remind us to encourage one another.  We need encouragement and inspiration from one another.  We need to remind each other of our gifts and of the teaching to love one another and love and serve God above all else.

Then, in Luke’s gospel, Jesus reminds Simon (a “certain Pharisee”, not the Apostle) through a parable that all of us are indebted to God more than we could repay on our own (Luke 7:36-50).  All of us, regardless of how esteemed or how reviled we are by others, have access to mercy.  We all fail—and we all need mercy.  We so easily fall into a pattern of recognizing and commenting on failures – failures of others and our own failures.   I too easily fall into a pattern of continually reciting to myself and to others undone task after undone task.  I rate myself and rate others on completing tasks and bemoan the failures evident in so many undone tasks.  I can get so wrapped up in this focus on these failures that the more important priority of caring for others gets ignored, much like Simon who appears to have ignored basic hospitality care for Jesus.  Worry and focus on failures narrows our vision and our ability to use our gifts to their full effect.

 Jesus calls us to mercy and gratitude that expresses itself in care, teaching, and encouragement.  We’ve all been forgiven more than we can ever repay.  Why then, can’t we be extravagant in our gratitude for mercy, love, and gifts that we’ve experienced?  Why can’t we pour out that gratitude in love and encouragement to one another?