By the Grace of God

September 18, 2008

Thursday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

For I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective. Indeed, I have toiled harder than all of them; not I, however, but the grace of God (that is) with me. 1 Corinthians 15:9-10

Her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little. Luke 7:47

Piety

Let us pray: God, you ask us to turn toward you and make room in our hearts and minds and beings for your Spirit to dwell in us. Help us to change the direction of our lives to respond to your love and forgiveness and look toward your Son.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/091808.shtml

Sunday was the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. On that day, we reflected upon the staff Moses made and lifted up. That staff raised the sights of his people and overcame the biting serpents which plagued the grumbling people in the desert. It was something to be grasped. It was something to be gazed upon. Then we considered the cross that Jesus spoke about Nicodemus. Through this cross, the world would be, not condemned, but would be saved. That theme continues today as we reflect on the concept of repentance.

Repent! Both episodes in today’s readings present powerful lessons on the relation between forgiveness and love. The combined effect of these two actions is a total turnaround in the lives of the people we meet today. St. Paul and the woman anointing Jesus’ feet are both examples of obedient humility and servant leadership. Their love-in-action springs from the fact that they have turned away from sin and are now repaying their debts as they have been forgiven. Forgiveness comes first and is freely given. In return, service comes next and also is freely given.

According to the notes in the New American Bible, that the woman's sins have been forgiven is attested by the great love she shows toward Jesus. Her love is the consequence of her forgiveness. The same can be said of St. Paul.

Repent means to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life. They have both repented. Their love was penned up by sin. Once they are freed from that, they are no longer confined to the lives that they were formerly leading.

Action

St. Paul is the patron of Cursillo. He is a model for us on turning around our lives to the Cursillo tripod.

What obstacles have our lives penned up? If we are released from these obstacles, how will we show our thanks for such freedom? How will we fill up our time if we set aside sinful ways or wasteful practices?

Many of us wait until New Year’s Day to make a resolution to change something. Why wait. Make a decision to change something you don’t like today. Then, fill up the time that diversion would have consumed with a renewed commitment to one of the legs of your “tripod” that needs strengthening.

Piety: Maybe you can make an effort to read a Psalm per day until you get more familiar with them as a prayer not reserved just for monks in the Daily Office.

Study: Maybe you can try to write an installment of Your Daily Tripod. Contact your humble editor and we can select a date when others are not writing.

Action: Maybe there is someone close to you who needs special assistance. Make time for them like the woman with the perfume made time for Jesus.