One Minute Reflection – 25 September – Readings: Ps 104:3-4, Ps 104:1, Osee 14:2-10, Luke 7:36-50
And He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” And they who were at table with Him began to say within themselves, “Who is this man, who even forgives sins?” But He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Luke 7:36-50
REFLECTION – A sinful woman has proclaimed to us that God’s love has gone forth in search of sinners. For when he called her, Christ was inviting our whole race to his love; and in her person he was drawing all sinners to his forgiveness. He spoke to her alone, but he was drawing all creation to his grace. Who would not be struck by the mercy of Christ, who accepted an invitation to a Pharisee’s house in order to save a sinner! For the sake of the woman who hungered for forgiveness, he himself felt hunger for the table of Simon the Pharisee; and all the while, under the guise of a meal of bread he had prepared for the sinner a meal of repentance!
In order that you may have the same experience, reflect within yourself that your sin is great but that it is blasphemy against God, and an injury to yourself, to despair of his forgiveness because your sin seems to you to be too great. He has promised to forgive your sins, however many they are; will you tell him you cannot believe this and dispute with him, saying that your sin is too great and he cannot heal your sickness? Stop at that point, and cry out with the prophet: “Lord, I have sinned against you”. At once he will reply, "As for me, I have overlooked your fault: you shall not die." Glory to him from us all through all ages. Amen.
An anonymous Syrian writer of the 6th century
PRAYER – Holy God, help me to amend my life constantly and be sincerely converted to You. Let me seek Your interests rather than my own and be ever more closely united with You. Send Your Spirit of understanding to enkindle our minds but most of all, fill us with Your grace of faith, that whether we understand or not, our love and obedience, is our only guide. Blessed Virgin Mother teach us to carry our crosses as you did in love and patience. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for all eternity, amen.
