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The BreadCast


Daily Exposition of the Readings for Catholic Mass...

as well as Prayers to the Saints on the General Roman Calendar (for the U.S.).  

From the books Our Daily Bread and Prayers to the Saints by James H. Kurt - both with imprimatur.

Sep 14, 2022

(1Cor.15:1-11;   Ps.118:1-2,16-17,28;   Lk.7:36-50)

 

“I am the least of the apostles.”

 

Brothers and sisters, “little is forgiven the one whose love is small.”  And it is in the sweet tears of repentance that we discover the love held in the merciful heart of the Lord.

Paul speaks the truth of himself when he claims that he does “not even deserve the name” of apostle because he has “persecuted the Church of God.”  “But through the favor of God” he has “worked harder than all the others,” preaching the Gospel of the Lord.  As small as he is and as undeserving as he is, so great is the Lord’s blessing upon him.  In the measure he recognizes his sin, the Lord pours His grace into him, and through him to others.

And what grace pours forth through the woman in our gospel today!  In her we see our own encounter with the Lord.  Here is she who is “known in town to be a sinner” standing and kneeling in tears before her God.  And the Lord knows well “who and what sort of woman this is that touches Him – that she is a sinner,” and He knows well, too, her repentant heart.  While the others at table see neither their own sin nor the woman’s repentance, He allows Himself to be touched by both (her sin and her repentance) – it is for just such a moment as this He has come.  And how well the Lord speaks the truth in His detailed description of the woman’s repentance; how well we see His love reflected in her… and how blest is she to hear these words for which every heart does long: “Your sins are forgiven.”  And how her tears increase at this word come forth from the mouth of the Holy One.  And so, while the others argue blindly among themselves, He reaches out His hand, touches her face, and whispers to her soul: “Your faith has been your salvation.  Now go in peace.”

“O my God, I extol you…  You have been my savior.”  Indeed, your “mercy endures forever,” and now I know that “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.”  This is the song the woman must sing; this is the song of St. Paul.  This is the song of every soul redeemed by the love of the Lord.  So let us all “stand firm” in the Gospel preached to us by those who have seen Him, from Peter to this wretched Paul; we “are being saved by it at this very moment if we retain it” in its purity.  And here is the Word simply put: “That Christ died for our sins in accord with the Scriptures; that He was buried and, in accord with the Scriptures, rose on the third day.”  What grace is ours, we the least, we poor sinners – we who know the greatness of His love.

 ******* 

O LORD, let us have faith in your Son  

and in His sacrifice for our sins;  

on our knees in love let us come to Him,  

and we shall find His mercy. 

YHWH, how can we see you if tears of repentance do not fill our eyes?  How will your mercy be known to us if we do not come on our knees before your Son?  If we love but little we shall be forgiven little, and our sins will continue to blind our eyes. 

Have mercy on us, O LORD, we are all burdened with debt we cannot repay.  But you hear our prayers, you have pity on our poor, sinful souls, and you reach out your hand to touch our hearts, to relieve the burden we carry by the sacrifice of your Son.  Thank you, LORD.  We praise you for your love. 

Let us welcome you into our homes; let us receive Jesus into our very hearts.  In our spirits take up your residence, LORD, by our faith in Him and in His death and resurrection.  For us He died and was buried; for us He rose on the third day.  Let us never forget His enduring mercy – in great humility let us embrace your love.