When we remember just how loving the Lord has been in our lives, we will embrace today’s gospel more deeply and profoundly, for we can relate to how we once got down on our knees and cried our hearts out to the Lord for forgiveness, because we realize how much or how far we have strayed from Him.
In His mercy and love, He had forgiven us, and we decided to go forth by our penance to perfume the air where He walks , to be living testimonies of His love by our love and our actions for Him. Just as today’s first reading suggests, we will go in the Holy Spirit and walk with integrity in the new life found in the Lord, so that all who look upon us will be amazed to see that His light is within us as we carry His love to all that we meet.
And so let us glorify the Lord by our lives in all that we say and do. Amen.
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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 your 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.
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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.’
In His mercy and love, He had forgiven us, and we decided to go forth by our penance to perfume the air where He walks , to be living testimonies of His love by our love and our actions for Him. Just as today’s first reading suggests, we will go in the Holy Spirit and walk with integrity in the new life found in the Lord, so that all who look upon us will be amazed to see that His light is within us as we carry His love to all that we meet.
And so let us glorify the Lord by our lives in all that we say and do. Amen.
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