http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/091709.shtml
September 17, 2009
Thursday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity…Attend to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in both tasks, for by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you. 1 Timothy 4:12, 16
So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." Luke 7:47-48
Piety
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St. Hildegard Prayer.
September 17th is the Feast of St. Hildegard, Benedictine visionary. Over the last 20 years, she has become very popular due to her books, her music and her visions. She was truly a most remarkable woman of her time, around the time of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, in the twelfth century.)
O God, by whose grace Thy servant Hildegard, enkindled with the fire of Thy love, became a burning and shining light in Thy Church: grant that we also may be aflame with the spirit of love and discipline, and may ever walk before Thee as children of light: through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth, one God, now and forever. Amen. (http://asanoblate.blogspot.com/2009/09/st-hildegard-prayer.html)
Study
Jesus expects us to turn our piety into action. Timothy shows us the many ways to do so… “in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.” Beyond just the advice in Timothy’s letter, Jesus points out a real life example of someone whose actions help show us the connection between forgiveness and love-in-action.
When do we show great love to Jesus? Can Jesus hear us in our speech? Can Jesus watch us in our actions? Can Jesus feel us in our love? When was the last time our actions reflected the extent of the forgiveness of our sins? Would Jesus ever accuse us of loving little?
The other subtle note from today’s Good News is the order in which the love is shown. Forgiveness from Jesus comes FIRST. Then the action is taken. “So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”
Action
How do we react to the forgiveness of the Lord? Will our actions lead Jesus to conclude that our faith has saved us, too?
