O Lord why do you love me so?
All those years You gently called me home to You and I walked on further away in silence. For had I responded I would have said” Leave me alone I want to live my life my own way!”
O Lord why do you love me so?
And so I ‘loved’ and lived a sinful life exploring the many forms of sexual delights. Unbridled tongue wielded as I pleased. Who was I? But one shrouded in my own mystery.
O Lord why do you love me so?
The further I travelled down the wide open road the harder my heart became. The seven daily Sins were my companions! Who could love me now? When I did know or understand love? Love is something you say or ‘do’ to get what you want!
O Lord why do you love me so?
Troubled, restless, despairing at my loss of my identity retaining only a shred of sanity and a tiny morsel of human dignity, I found myself at Your feet before the Blessed Sacrament weeping for all I had done and all I had failed to do. Then I set my gaze upon You and saw that You loved me and had never stopped! I was liberated from a debt I could not pay! You O Lord are Love!
I no longer ask “O Lord why do you love me so?” But instead ask, “Lord have I loved You more this day.” Amen
First reading
1 Timothy 4:12-16 ·
Be an example to all the believers
Do not let people disregard you because you are young, but be an example to the believers in the way you speak and behave, and in exhaling love, your faith and your purity. Make use of the time until I arrive by reading to the people, preaching and teaching. You have in you a spiritual gift which was given to you when the prophets spoke and the body of elders laid their hands on you; do not let it lie unused. Think hard about all this, and put it into practice, and everyone will be able to see how you are advancing. Take great care about what you do and what you teach; always do this, and in this way you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.
Gospel
Luke 7:36-50
Her many sins have been forgiven, or she would not have shown such great love
One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to a meal. When he arrived at the Pharisee’s house and took his place at table, a woman came in, who had a bad name in the town. She had heard he was dining with the Pharisee and had brought with her an alabaster jar of ointment. She waited behind him at his feet, weeping, and her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them away with her hair; then she covered his feet with kisses and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who this woman is that is touching him and what a bad name she has.’ Then Jesus took him up and said, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ ‘Speak, Master’ was the reply. ‘There was once a creditor who had two men in his debt; one owed him five hundred denarii, the other fifty. They were unable to pay, so he pardoned them both. Which of them will love him more?’ ‘The one who was pardoned more, I suppose’ answered Simon. Jesus said, ‘You are right.’
Then he turned to the woman. ‘Simon,’ he said ‘you see this woman? I came into your house, and you poured no water over my feet, but she has poured out her tears over my feet and wiped them away with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses ever since I came in. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. For this reason I tell you that her sins, her many sins, must have been forgiven her, or she would not have shown such great love. It is the man who is forgiven little who shows little love.’ Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ Those who were with him at table began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this man, that he even forgives sins?’ But he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’
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