Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gon, Priest, and Paul Chong Ha-sang,
and Companions, Martyrs
Intention: That each of us may grow every day in God’s love and work every day for the good of all.
Today’s Gospel | Luke 7:36-50
A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred day’s wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.”
Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven because she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
From the Eleventh Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
You, who are teachers of those you guide, must take all possible care to bring those under your guidance into the liberty of the children of God, which Jesus Christ obtained for us11 by dying for us. To do this, you need to have two qualities in your relationship with them. The first is gentleness and patience. The second is prudence in your reproofs and corrections.
Prayer
Eternal Father, your Son came to show us how to forgive and how to be forgiven. As we struggle to work through the hurts and disappointments in our lives, opening our minds and hearts to one another and to our own need for conversion. Teach us to seek first and always your Kingdom, building together a community of compassion and mercy. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.