1st READING
Paul is an interesting character. In today’s reading, he plays down his claim to apostleship. But in Galatians, he plays it up and dares to correct Peter. He lives in the dichotomy with the goal to be all things to all people. Whatever will help proclaim the Gospel—provided it is not a lie—is fair game. Maybe this is what Jesus hints at when He tells us to be as cunning as foxes in our service to the Gospel. Let us be flexible in preaching the Good News in different situations.
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
1 I am reminding you, brothers and sisters, of the Gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand. 2 Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 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; 4 that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; 5 that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 After that he appeared to James, then to all the Apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me. 9 For I am the least of the Apostles, not fit to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. 10 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. 11 Therefore, whether it be I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
PSALM
Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 28
R: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 2 Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” (R) 16 “The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord has struck with power.” 17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. (R) 28 You are my God, and I give thanks to you; O my God, I extol you. (R)
GOSPEL
We do not usually quantify love, but at times, it is needed to make the necessary point in an argument. Jesus makes it clear that the greater our commitment in love—and forgiveness for that matter—the greater our fruit in love will be. This makes eminent sense; thus, this ought to be goodmotivation for us to grow in our capacity to love. Learning to love in difficult situations only happens when we choose to do so.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
Luke 7:36-50
36 A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. 37 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, 38 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. 39 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.” 40 Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41 “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. 42 Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 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. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. 47 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.” 48 He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Reflect: “If we want to love, we must learn how to forgive.” – St. Teresa of Calcutta
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T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
thank You, Lord, for:
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Read the Bible in one year - Psalms 116-118
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