DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS
Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord. MT 11:28
1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-11
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
It is a very sobering thought that all who are called to preach the Gospel do so without diluting the message and without adding anything to it.
Paul teaches what he himself was taught by Your disciples - this is the Good News that saves, there is no other - You died for our sins, fulfilling every prophecy in Scripture, You were buried, and You were raised to life on the third day also in fulfillment of Scripture.
You appeared to many after Your resurrection and Paul himself was one of the many - beginning with Peter, the Apostles, to more than 500 disciples at once, to James and the last of the witnesses is Paul. We believe on the basis of their testimony - they testified to the Truth despite persecution, exile, imprisonment, torture, and death. They suffered for the sake of the Gospel. They laid down their lives for the sake of their Master who also laid down His life for the redemption of the world. But You took it up again so we, who believe may receive Your life and live in glory with You for all eternity. Let us not be ashamed or afraid to follow in Your footsteps by way of the Cross and Calvary to eternal glory.
PSALM 118:1-2, 15-17, 28
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
The psalmist invites us to give You thanks because You are good, to praise You because You are worthy, and to take comfort in the knowledge that Your love never ends.
Long before You entered time and history he prophecies Your triumphant reign at the Father's right hand after being raised from the dead. The grave could not hold You. You came to die in order that we who were dead might receive Your life and live. This indeed is Good News.
No one who believes in You, the only Son of the Father, who was born, who suffered, died, was buried and rose again on the third day need fear death. You have triumphed over the grave and we will share in Your victory. This is why we praise and thank You, our Savior, and Lord, for as long as we have breath in our frail bodies.
LUKE 7:36-50
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
This beautiful account of the truly repentant sinner and the incredible tenderness and mercy of God by St. Luke is one that has touched and transformed many lives. One can visualize the whole event because St. Luke describes it so vividly and dramatically.
There is a palpable hush in the conversation when a woman of ill repute carrying an alabaster jar, enters the house of the Pharisee who had invited You to a meal. The silence however was momentary. Soon there was a distinct, low murmur as the looked at her and whispered but she was oblivious of them all. She had come with a purpose. She had heard about You. Somehow she knew in her spirit that You would give her a chance to begin anew. She saw You and came up right behind You.
Prostrating at Your feet she wept bitterly allowing her tears to wash Your feet, she dried them with her hair and poured out the fragrant ointment in the jar over Your feet all the while covering them with kisses. The fragrance of the expensive ointment filled the room.
Simon, the one who hosted the meal, is identified as a pharisee and a leper. He is obviously a former leper but the label has stuck. It is ironic that he himself who carries the label of a leper even though he is cured is busy labeling this woman in his head. Not only is he maligning You he is also condemning her. You read his thoughts and forced him to judge rightly after telling him a parable. ‘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.’
You did not leave it there. Simon had shamed and condemned the woman in his thoughts but he himself was guilty of withholding the common courtesies shown to a guest. Was his negligence as the host done deliberately and in full view of his guests subtly indicating to the rest how little he really respected You? What was his intention in inviting You in the first place? In any case, You addressed him directly.
‘Simon, 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.’
Thank You, Beloved, for instituting the awesome Sacrament of Reconciliation where every sinner who approaches You with a repentant and contrite heart can receive forgiveness, mercy, and healing.
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