The first reading today in a sense points back to last Sunday's celebration of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross; and the gospel passage looks forward to next Sunday's gospel passage about God's unusually generous mercy!
In the first reading St. Paul tells the Corinthians of the preeminence of the Gospel that he preaches - the gospel in which they believed. It's surpassing power and efficacy comes from God. It's content is about JESUS, the Incarnate Son of God, who died for our sins (on the CROSS OF GLORY) in accordance with the Scriptures; who was buried in a tomb; who was GLORIOUSLY RAISED to newness of life on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; that he appeared to his chosen apostles and to many others – and lastly appeared to me – who persecuted the Church of God – therefore making me the very least of the apostles.
Paul reminds the Corinthians that it is by the love of God and the grace of Christ Crucified and the power of the Holy Spirit that he is what he is and that he can do what he does!
In the gospel passage we see a hint of this coming Sunday's gospel passage where Jesus tells us that God's way of looking at things and doing things is so very different than man's ways! God's justice is not man's justice! God's mercy is not man's mercy – unless it is transformed by God's love! The Pharisee saw the actions of the sinful woman as presumptuous, scandalous and completely out of place; while Jesus saw her actions as loving, penitential and healing! And so he accepts her love and because he is God, forgives her sin! The Pharisee just does not see things this way! And he remains in his hardness of heart!
Thanks be to God – that his mercy and forgiveness and love are different from our own – or all of us would be in big trouble!
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever!
No comments:
Post a Comment