[Salvation]

Gratitude for God’s Generosity

• Homily of the Day
• September 20th, 2012
• Food For Thought

Thursday, September 20, 2012 by Food for Thought

FirstReading: 1 Cor 15:1-11
Psalm: Ps 118:1b-2, 16ab-17, 28
Gospel: Lk 7:36-50

Imagine that we have such a huge debt to pay strict creditors, then suddenly Jesus comes to our rescue and gives us the funds to cover this bill. How would we feel at that very moment? What would our reaction be to our Lord who generously swoops in to lend his support and to save us from a sure prison sentence?

Maybe in this instance, we can begin to empathize with the sinful woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her hair. She must have been so grateful to be freed from the harsh judgment of society. Here was a
holy man who looked on her with love and complete understanding. He accepted her for who she is. And this is what inspires her to convert and become a better person.

We’ve all had our share of falling short and not really living up to what is expected. But God doesn’t shoo us away? In fact, He embraces us more and gently nudges us to keep doing our best. There is no
prerequisite to earning His love. It will always be there whether we remain on the righteous path or if we unintentionally stray elsewhere. May we always appreciate such wonderful and mysterious love.

[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

 

<< Thursday, September 20, 2012 >>

St. Andrew Kim Taegon, St. Paul Chong Hasang, & the Korean Martyrs

1 Corinthians 15:1-11
View Readings

Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 28

Luke 7:36-50

LOVED AND FORGIVEN INTO LOVE

"Little is forgiven the one whose love is small." —Luke 7:47

 

Do you believe that Jesus loves you so much that He died on the cross to free you from your sins? Do you believe that without Jesus' death on the cross you would be doomed to hell forever because of your sins? Each one of us has been forgiven an enormous, unpayable debt. Therefore, we should:

• cry tears of love, contrition, and joy (see Lk 7:38),
• love Jesus so much that we throw ourselves at His feet (Lk 7:38),
• love Jesus so much that we wash, kiss, and perfume His feet (Lk 7:38),
• be impelled by love to share the good news of justification and forgiveness through Jesus (see 2 Cor 5:14),
• forgive others for even the worst offenses — after all that the Lord has forgiven us (Mt 18:32ff), and
• love everyone, even our enemies, because Jesus first loved us (1 Jn 4:19).

If our love is small, then we do not realize how loved and forgiven we are (see Lk 7:47). If our love is great, "we have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us" (1 Jn 4:16). "Grasp fully, with all the holy ones, the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ's love, and experience this love" (Eph 3:18-19). Then love and forgive accordingly.

 

Prayer: Father, I will live on in Your love and forgiveness (Jn 15:9).

Promise: "I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and in which you stand firm. You are being saved by it at this very moment if you hold fast to it as I preached it to you." —1 Cor 15:1-2

Praise: Sts. Andrew and Paul represent the 103 canonized martyrs of Korea, who shed their blood to give life to the growing Church in Korea.