11^TH  SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME-C

I Reading: 2Samuel 12:7-10.13: The Lord forgives your sin; you are not to die.

II Reading: Galatians 2:16.19-21: I live now not with my own life but with the life of Christ who lives in me.

Gospel: Luke 7:36-8:3: Her many sins have been forgiven, or she would not have shown such great love.

Jesus Contrasts the Attitudes of the Repentant and Self-righteous,

Lk 7:36-50

Today the church invites us to reflect on the deep meaning of the “Credo”, “I believe in the forgiveness of sins.” We should do it with joy and great gratitude to God. The story of David’s sin and repentance conveys a great lesson for us today. Let us consider a few.

1. By sin, we go directly against God’s goodness and love.

2. Recalling God’s love for us, moves us to repentance. Nathan recalled to David how God had chosen him, a mere shepherd, as king of Israel in place of Saul; how he had protected him thought out the years, granting him victory over his enemies.

3. It is God who, out of love, leads us to repentance.

4. God forgives us the very moment we repent.

5. God does not punish, nor does he take revenge for the sins we commit, whereas we are punished by our own wrong doings or evil actions.

6. God’s mercy is a source of joy for those who experience it. Jesus says in the Gospel: “There is rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner.” (Lk 15:7,10)

The Gospel passage contrasts the attitudes of the sinful (repentant) and the self-righteous. It needs to be studied carefully, for self-righteousness is a serious sin. It is both common and damning.

1. Simon, a Pharisee, invited Jesus to dinner and Jesus accepted (v.36)

2. The attitude of the repentant: A woman prostitute (v.37-38)

a. She sensed a desperate need

b. She approached the Lord despite all

c. She surrendered to the Lord in utter humility

d. She loved much, giving her most precious possession

3. The attitude of self-righteous (v.39)

a. He was a considerate man, but self-righteous

b. He considered himself better than others

c. He sensed no need for forgiveness

4. The two attitudes illustrated: The parable of two debtors (v.40-43)

a. One debtor owed much; the other little

b. A free forgiveness of both debtors

c. A piercing question: who approached and loved the most?

d. A begrudging answer

5. The need of the self-righteous: to really see Jesus, who the repentant say He is (v.44-50)

a. He is the One who deserves more than common courtesies

          1) common vs. worshipful respect

          2) common vs. humble greeting

          3) common vs. sacrificial gift

b. He is the One who has the power to forgive sins

c. He is the One whom people need to ask about

d. He is the One who saves the repentant

Thought: The person who comes to Jesus Christ must come with a broken and contrite heart with humility and unworthiness and with a sacrificial gift.

Jesus and the Women Who Supported Him, Lk 8:1-3

This is an interesting passage. It shows that Jesus received financial support for his ministry. There were some women, apparently well-off financially, who supported him.

1. They supported a ministry of preaching (v.1)

a. It reached out

b. It was true to the gospel: the kingdom of God

2. They supported a ministry of discipleship (v.1)

3. They supported a ministry of salvation (v.2-3)

a. Mary Magdalene: a dark past

b. Joanna: a lady of the king’s court

c. Susanna: an unnoticed follower

d. Mary  others: unknown

Thought: we need to support financially to the church for the mission of Jesus and for the real in need in the world.

Sin always brings sadness; God’s forgiveness always brings a great joy and peace in life.

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