Who Would I Be?
A Poem on Luke 7:36-50
“But he who is forgiven little, loves little….”
If you came to my house, who would I be?
Would I love you like that sinful woman, or despise you like a Pharisee?
Would I fall at your feed and wet them with tears,
Or would I stand at a distance, judging in fear?
I hope I’d be like her, serving and loving you for all that you’ve done,
Knowing you are not just another teacher, you are God’s one and only Son.
But I do fear, at times, you would have to come and sit me down,
I fear you would have to tell me a parable to show you alone deserve the crown.
And I trust it would work, your loving words spoken so true,
I know your sweet compassion would surely draw me to you.
For you have humbled and taught me, like her, with this simple riddle,
That surely I should love you much, for my sin which you forgave was not very little.
A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among[h] themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” – Luke 7:41-50