One Minute Reflection – 20 September – Today’s Gospel: Luke 7:36–50 – Thursday of the Twenty-fourth week in Ordinary Time, Year B and The Memorial of the Korean Martyrs – Sts Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang & Companions – 103 saints and beati & St Eustachius & family (died 2nd century) – Martyrs
“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much”….Luke 7:47
REFLECTION – “Today, in particular, Jesus brings us to inner conversion: He explains why He forgives us and teaches us to make forgiveness received from and given to, our brothers and sisters – the “daily bread” of our existence.
…Dear friends, from the Word of God we have just heard emerge practical instructions for our life. Jesus does not enter into a theoretical discussion with His interlocutors on this section of Mosaic Law; He is not concerned with winning an academic dispute about an interpretation of Mosaic Law but His goal is to save a soul and reveal that salvation is only found in God’s love. This is why He came down to the earth, this is why He was to die on the Cross and why the Father was to raise Him on the third day.
Jesus came to tell us, that He wants us all in Paradise and that hell, about which little is said in our time, exists and is eternal for those who close their hearts to His love. …it is stressed that there is no forgiveness without the desire for forgiveness, without opening the heart to forgiveness – here it is highlighted, that only divine forgiveness and divine love, received with an open and sincere heart, give us the strength to resist evil and “to sin no more”, to let ourselves be struck by God’s love so that it becomes our strength. Jesus’ attitude, thus becomes a model to follow, for every community, which is called to make love and forgiveness the vibrant heart of its life.”…Pope Benedict XVI – Sunday, 25 March 2007
” Salvation enters the heart, only when we open the heart, in the truth of our sins.”…Pope Francis – Santa Marta, 18 Sept 2014 (“Pope Francis” painting by Natalia Tsarkova)
PRAYER – Grant us Lord, a true knowledge of salvation, so that, freed from fear and from the power of our foes, we may serve You faithfully, all the days of our life. Give us Holy Father, a true desire for repentance and forgiveness and teach us each day, to forgive all with love. Holy Martyrs, St Eustachius and family and those who so filled with love, died for the faith in Korea, please pray for us that we too may be filled with holy love and courage. We make our prayer through our Lord, Jesus Christ in union with the Holy Spirit, one God, forever, amen.
AnaStpaul 