September 17, 2015

St. Robert Bellarmine, S.J.

Luke 7:36-50

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.’ Jesus spoke up and said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ ‘Teacher,’ he replied, ‘speak.’ ‘A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?’ Simon answered, ‘I suppose the one for whom he cancelled the greater debt.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘You have judged rightly.’ Then turning towards the woman, he said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.’ Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’ And he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’ New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved. http://www.usccb.org/bible/approved-translation  

Nurture the Gifts

Being young has great advantages: high energy, zest for life, a fresh approach. Of course, it also has a downside: others might not take a young person seriously! "You're so young," an older employee might say to his/her younger colleague, with a figurative pat on the head. I wonder if that's a frustration Timothy felt as a leader in his community. Paul encourages this young disciple not to be annoyed by other people's attitudes, but to set a positive example and persevere in what he is doing. Paul reminds Timothy about the gift Timothy already has. Often I worry about the gifts I don't have rather than nurturing the gifts I do have. Are there gifts I've neglected to appreciate in my life? What are simple ways I can glorify God by serving others with these gifts? How has God blessed me today: in my family, friends, work, or studies? —Maggie Melchior is a convert to the Catholic faith. She currently serves as Coordinator of New Evangelization and Faith Formation for a parish in the Diocese of Green Bay.

Nurture the Gifts

Being young has great advantages: high energy, zest for life, a fresh approach. Of course, it also has a downside: others might not take a young person seriously! "You're so young," an older employee might say to his/her younger colleague, with a figurative pat on the head. I wonder if that's a frustration Timothy felt as a leader in his community. Paul encourages this young disciple not to be annoyed by other people's attitudes, but to set a positive example and persevere in what he is doing. Paul reminds Timothy about the gift Timothy already has. Often I worry about the gifts I don't have rather than nurturing the gifts I do have. Are there gifts I've neglected to appreciate in my life? What are simple ways I can glorify God by serving others with these gifts? How has God blessed me today: in my family, friends, work, or studies? —Maggie Melchior is a convert to the Catholic faith. She currently serves as Coordinator of New Evangelization and Faith Formation for a parish in the Diocese of Green Bay.  

Prayer

Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day. It is a choice based on the knowledge that we belong to God and have found in God our refuge and safety and that nothing, not even death, can take God away from us. Joy is the experience of knowing that you are unconditionally loved and that nothing--sickness, failure, emotional distress, oppression, war, or even death--can take that love away. —Fr. Henri Nouwen, Dutch priest, author, teacher: 1932-1996
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