EVANGELIO DEL DÍA

jueves, 16 de septiembre de 2010

"Her many sins have been forgiven"

DAILY GOSPEL: 16/09/2010


Thursday of the Twenty-fourth week in Ordinary Time


First Letter to the Corinthians 15:1-11.
Now I am reminding you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand.
Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures;
that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures;
that he appeared to Kephas, then to the Twelve.
After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
After that he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me.
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.
Therefore, whether it be I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Psalms 118(117):1-2.16-17.28.
Give thanks to the LORD, who is good, whose love endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say: God's love endures forever.
the LORD'S right hand is raised; the LORD'S right hand strikes with power."
I shall not die but live and declare the deeds of the LORD.
You are my God, I give you thanks; my God, I offer you praise.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 7:36-50.
A Pharisee invited him 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 days' 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; hence, 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."
Lc 7,36-50
Commentary of the day 
An anonymous Syrian writer of the 6th century
From a collection of anonymous homilies on the sinful woman, 1, 4.5.19.26.28 (Orient syrien, 7, 1962, 180-181. 189. 193. 194)
"Her many sins have been forgiven"
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 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 damage 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; he cannot heal your sickness? Stop at this point, and cry out with the prophet, «Lord, I have sinned against you» (Ps 51[50],6). At once he will reply, "As for me, I have overlooked your fault: you shall not die." Glory to him from all of us, for all the ages. Amen.


Thursday, 16 September 2010

Saint Cyprian, Bishop, Martyr and Saint Cornelius, Pope and Martyr



SAINT CORNELIUS
Pope and Martyr
(?-253)
         Saint Cornelius became Bishop of Rome in 251. He fought against the Novatianschismatics and with the help of Cyprian was able to enforce his authority.  He was exiled by Emperor Gallus, and died in exile in 253 in Civitavecchia. His body was brought to Rome where he was buried in the cemetery of Saint Callistus.
SAINT CYPRIAN 
Bishop and Martyr
(c. 210-258)
            Cyprian was an African of noble birth, but of evil life, a pagan, and a teacher of rhetoric. In middle life he was converted to Christianity, and shortly after his baptism was ordained priest, and made Bishop of Carthage, notwithstanding his resistance. When the persecution of Decius broke out, he fled from his episcopal city, that he might be the better able to minister to the wants of his flock, but returned on occasion of a pestilence. Later on he was banished, and saw in a vision his future martyrdom.              Being recalled from exile, sentence of death was pronounced against him, which he received with the words "Thanks be to God." His great desire was to die whilst in the act of preaching the faith of Christ, and he had the consolation of being surrounded at his martyrdom by crowds of his faithful children. He was beheaded on the 14th of September, 258, and was buried with great solemnity. Even the pagans respected his memory.  
God our Father, in Saints Cornelius and Cyprian you have given your people an inspiring example of dedication to the pastoral ministry and constant witness to Christ in their suffering. May theirs prayers and faith give us courage to work for the unity of our Church. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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