1st Reading from the 2 Book of Samuel, 12: 7-10, 13
-Nathan’s Message and David’s Repentance-
“Nathan answered David: ‘The Lord on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die.’”
This fragment of Samuel’s Book leads us to the time when David was King of Judeah & Israel. David had been blessed by God, who loved him dearly.
Nathan the prophet said to David, God “made you King of Israel and rescued you from Saul. (He) gave you his kingdom and his wives; (He) made you king over Israel and Judah.” God was disappointed at David’s actions, at his sins of lust and murder. David had pretty much broken God’s heart and yet, in seeing David’s real contrition, God forgave David’s sins.
Although David could not get away with the murder of Uriah, he obtained God’s pardon once he truly recognized and acknowledged in front of God, that he -David- had done wrong. For David, the truth really set him free.
In our lives we all have been tempted to cover a misdeed or a sin, either because we feel embarrassed or maybe because we are afraid of the consequences of what we have done. Fear will paralyze us and take us away from the path of honesty, because covering up a sin is whole lot easier than facing the reality of a bad action. The proverbial battle that takes place between the little angel and the little devil who reside on each one of our shoulders becomes a fearsome one, leaving us the end, confused and lost under the forces at war. It takes great courage and strength, to take a stand, and face reality. Though the action of facing our sins is a very draining one, we become refilled and plenty once we allow God back into our hearts. All we need to do for him to get inside is to open the door that welcomes an honest reconciliation.
May we be as strong as King David, who chose the truth in front of God. May we be honest with ourselves and with the world, because it is only in the truth that we can seek forgiveness for our sins.
2nd Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Galatians, 3: 26-29
-Jews and Gentiles are Saved by Faith-
“… as the Law is concerned … I am dead -killed by the Law itself-, in order that I might live for God.”
As Christianity grew and many Jews chose to embrace the new Christian faith, the question arose of whether the new converts needed to follow the Law of Moses to become “real” Christians. Churches in Galatia, a Roman province is Asia Minor, claimed that the Law of Moses needed to be followed, because -according to them-, salvation could only be found through strict adherence to the practice of Moses’ teachings.
Paul’s work and his letter to the Galatians came to be after Paul realized that the Galatians were on a wrong path and needed to be brought back to the true faith and practice. He had discovered that they were being mislead by the believe of the Law of Moses as the only way to be good with God.
Paul explained to the Galatians that a person could only be put right with God “through faith in Jesus Christ.” The Law, wrote Paul, “was in charge of us until Christ came”, because before Christ’s arrival the world was “under the power of sin.” Once the Son of God was revealed to us, we learned that the only way we could be one in God was through faith. So, “now that time for faith is here, the Law is no longer in charge of us.”
And although the Law is the equivalent to the GPS that allows us to stay within Moses’ prophetic route, it is not through the Law that will be right with God. We must realize that dietary limitations and circumcision will not lead us to a place on God’s heavenly table; instead, it is through faith and love in God’s Messiah that we will ultimately be able to enjoy eternal life.
May our faith strengthen with each passing day, as we read the Scriptures and get to understand what God is asking of us. May we be able to imitate Jesus’ example so that the grace of God will enrich our experience as Gentiles learning from his son, the Messiah.
The Gospel according to Luke, 7:36 – 8:3
-Jesus at the Home of Simon Pharisee- & -Women Who Accompanied Jesus-
On the day when Simon Pharisee invited Jesus to have supper at his house, other people attended as well. One of them was a woman who had led a sinful life. Throughout the gathering she spent time cleaning Jesus’ feet. First she washed them with tears from her eyes, and later wiping them dry with her hair. After kissing Jesus’ feet, she opened an alabaster jar that she had brought along, and applied the perfumed contents on his feet.
Simon Pharisee, alone with his thoughts, kept on thinking that it was very likely that Jesus did not know of the woman’s reputation. He said to himself that if Jesus knew of the woman’s story, she would be removed from such closeness to him, and would be forbidden from giving him all that attention and care. Hearing Simon’s thoughts Jesus shared with him the parable of the two men whose debts had been cancelled and that how the one man whose pardoned debt was greater was probably the one most thankful for the obtained favor. And then, in front of a silenced Simon, Jesus told the woman that he had pardoned her sins; she could now go in peace because her faith had saved her.
How many of us have avoided those friends from school or from work who were not cool enough? How many of us have looked the other way just so we would not be associated with the pariah, or with the ugly one, or with the dumb one? How many of us have felt, like Simon, that a person’s past should determine whether or not they are worth of our company? We are in no position to judge others. We do not know if, despite people’s exterior, their interior could be cleaner and better than ours.
Jesus protected and stood up for those less beautiful, for the less rich, for the sinners, and for the sick. One would venture to say that Jesus actually enjoyed the company of the less fortunate, and we are likely right in the assumption that Jesus preferred to be with them rather than partaking with the church’s elders or with the Pharisees.
Jesus knew that his mission required him to protect those who had no one to protect them, and he accomplished his mission with a joyous heart. He did not forget the poor, the sick, or the rejected members of society. Every step of the way Jesus was fully aware of who was with him, of the reputation of his companions, and above all Jesus knew how much his presence helped those who were ready to share their lives, time, and talents with him. Jesus did not shortchange anyone and gave his own life for mankind that was not even born.
Following Jesus’ example, may we discover ways to give and to share with others regardless of their reputation; and may we be able to help our brothers and sisters so they too can find the road that leads to eternal salvation.
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