Daily
Thoughts:
In our first reading today, David is spoken to directly by God through the
prophet Nathan. David had abused and misused his God-given powers as king. He
had lusted after another man’s wife. He has
brought her to his palace and she became pregnant. If this wasn’t bad enough David
compounds his sin by having Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, placed in the front
line of a battle where he is killed. All so he can take Uriah’s wife as his
own. In time the child grew ill and David prayed and fasted, but after seven
days, the child died.
Nathan
speaks to David, words from God. It is an accounting of God’s goodness to David
and David’s abuse of his power and manly gifts. Nathan is giving David’s
confession for him and David makes the simple and honest response. He has
sinned. Nathan then after hearing David’s response offers God’s mercy and forgiveness.
Even though the sins of misused-power and violence were so terrible, God’s
response is gentle and life-giving.
In our
Gospel today we witness the ebb and flow of the life of Jesus. He is invited by
a Pharisee, but not welcome. He welcomes a sinful woman who is not invited. This
is one instance from a prominent theme in Luke’s Gospel and we will be encountering
more of it in the coming weeks.
Luke’s
presentation of the “Kingdom of Heaven” is that it belongs to the
welcomed-poor. Those who are rich in
stature or possessions are responding to the invitations of other kingdoms.
Simon the Pharisee has invited Jesus to dine, but less as a guest and more as a
test. The scene in today Gospel is painted like a court-scene. Simon the
Pharisee is the prosecutor, the others guests are the jury and Jesus is the one
on trial.
A
surprising element of evidence appears in court. A sinful woman kneels for
mercy. Jesus welcomes her into His Kingdom of the forgiven and in so doing
confronts the kingdom of the unforgiving. Jesus raises her and sends her back
to a new life. He points to her attitude and contrasts that with the attitude
of Simon. Luke is not subtle in contrasting between the Kingdom of Heaven and
the ways of the worldly powerful.
Our
Gospel today ends quite significantly with the naming of those women who were
also friends and disciples of Jesus. In the culture of that time, women’s power
was limited. Jesus invites, welcomes and dignifies them by his loving embracing
of their presence. They are finding in Jesus a power that is used - not abused.
In the Kingdom which Jesus preaches women are empowered to give him birth,
care, and sent to proclaim the good news from the experiences of their own
lives.
Perhaps a
question from our readings today is – How do we use our power? Does our power
like David’s lead to selfishness and sin or do we let our power give life like
Jesus so we become gentle and loving?
Have a
great Sunday everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
O God, search us and know our hearts; test us and know our concerns. See if
there is any crooked way in us, and lead us in the everlasting way. For we
truly do believe so our prayer to you is help our unbelief. Amen!
A Runner’s
Thoughts:
“The advice I have for beginners is the same philosophy that I have for runners
of all levels of experience and ability—consistency, a sane approach,
moderation, and making your running an enjoyable, rather than dreaded, part of
your life.” (Bill Rodgers) So to in the spiritual life…
Daily
Blessing:
Sunday greetings and blessing to all. I hope this finds you enjoying your
Sunday. I find myself in Clarion, PA. I stopped here last evening after driving
for about six hours. I have about a two hour drive today to Chardon, Ohio where
I will begin a retreat for the Sister of Notre Dame this evening. It looks to
be a beautiful sunny day again. They say the temperature will be a little
cooler than yesterday. May your Sunday be blessed with good weather.
As I
prepare for a week of retreat preaching I would ask that you keep the sisters
who will be making the retreat in your prayers so that they will have a good
retreat with many blessings for their journeys of life. If you could add an
extra prayer for their preacher as always it would be greatly appreciated!
My prayer
of blessing today is that you will be blessed with the spirit of faith to help
you on this journey of life. May you be blessed with the spirit of hope to get
you through the rough times. May you be blessed with the spirit of love to
remind you in whose image and likeness you are created in, how special you are
and that you are never alone. As you journey through this day may you know that
God is with you always and will never leave you to face your struggles alone! Sunday
blessing to all and don’t forget yo give God a little time today! Peace in
Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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