11th Sunday in Ordinary Time - June 2013
CATHOLIC
R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.
Do you know your unique gifts? Do you count your blessings? Do you review your day each evening to see how Godde has blessed you? David failed to, It bred Envy and ended in murder and adultery. The Galatians failed to and they ended up following strange 'men of god' turning their head back to a different gospel: one of Law rather than one of LOVE. Simon failed to count his blessings and could not recognize his gift of Christ's presence but was rather envious of the closeness the sinful woman experienced with Jesus and sought to take it away from her.
Beloved ignorance of your divine gifts leads to ENVY, envy breeds restless covetousness that goes a long way to unhappiness. Not just for you but for those around you. The sin of omission to discover our beautiful selves leads to the capital sin of envy. It eats you away and keeps you sad at what others have; makes you a slave to thoughts and actions of evil. We all know someone who is always sad because 'others have this' and 'I wish I had that like those' and 'i wish I was gifted like him/her'; they are so miserable. Beloved Jesus wants us to be free and Happy and has given us an excellent way.
The converted Galatians thought that by adopting religious over zealousness they would be righteousness. They forgot that the pharisees had already tried it and failed. Can you just picture those men/women at church behaving like their rules are Godde's rules? What are your own rules that you have decided if someone doesn't keep they should be kept away from the church communion? Rules that decide who is worthy of your smile or greeting or kindness? What is it you hoard out of lack of knowledge of your immense riches in Christ?
The psalmist instructs us that the perfect way to happiness and righteousness is to acknowledge and confess our sins just like King David. Let us start with the sin of ignoring our gifts and talents, not taking the time to discover them, not investing the money to groom them for the greater glory of Godde and our neighbour's good. Paul assures us that if truly we were junk and needed to covet what others have to feel alive, Jesus would never have died on the cross. That He died on the cross for you and me is proof that we each are valuable, gifted beyond measure, waiting to bloom. Paul says 'Beloved have faith in Jesus'.
You see the parable Jesus told Simon was not to elicit his knowledge that he had sinned just like the woman, but his knowledge that Jesus loved him so much to be in his house dining with him. For only love makes us SEE Jesus and SEE our sin that keeps us from Him. That is why Godde told David of all the things Godde had done for him. Love begets Love and Forgiveness, Mercy, is love that stoops down to lift up. Beloved Jesus loves you and if you will acknowledge your sin and confess it, He will stoop down to you and lift you up in the midst of your foes. You will be required some satisfaction to soothe your shame and guilt but you will experience being healed in your memory, being set free to love again and see others as Godde sees them, lovable. Jesus asks you to delay your happiness no longer. It bleeds his heart to see you miserable and wasted. He wants to see you strong, active and giving testimony that Jesus loves you and me and all of us.
Beloved waste no time today to come to Jesus and weep for your sins in whatever manner your faith tradition provides. Count your many blessings and see how much you are loved. Let the love of Godde seduce you and make you righteous and happy and charged to go and love all others especially those who are different. Now pray with me this short line and may Jesus grant you freedom and peace: Lord Forgive the wrong I have done. Amen
TexT
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2 Sam 12:7-10, 13
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Ps 32:1-2, 5, 7, 11
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Gal 2:16, 19-21
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Lk 7:36—8:3
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Whole
Thrust
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· The divine work in human hearts and cooperation with Divine rule.
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· Thanksgiving (thank-offering) by person on day of Expiation in recall of Divine rescue
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· To Jewish converts (2:15) Tensions from a return to living by Jewish practices/law over a Spirit-led faith
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· To Greeks: Reconciling humanity with the Divine and with one another
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Setting
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· Prophet Nathan with an Oracle to David concerning Bathsheba at palace using a lamb story
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· Cultic, in temple (testimony, ritual act & meal) after release from sin
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· A letter to redress converts’ turning to another gospel (1:6-7) that distorts Christ’s own.
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· Town of Naim; Jesus at a meal in Simon the Pharisee’s house. Other towns
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WORD
STUDY
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· Maschil. Says psalm is instructive or didactic
· To forgive, signifies ‘to carry out of sight’
· 4 evils mentioned-1. Transgression (pesha) 2. Sin, (chataah) 3. Iniquity, (avon) 4. Guile, (remiyah). The 1st signifies ‘the passing over a boundary, doing the prohibited’. The 2nd signifies ‘to miss a mark, not doing the commanded; it expresses sin in one’s nature. The 3rd signifies what is ‘turned out of its proper course’; any morally distorted or perverted, contrary to equity or justice. The 4th signifies fraud, deceit, guile.
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· Justified (dikaioutai).Present passive of dikaioô, an old causative verb from dikaios, righteous (from dike, right), to make/declare righteous.
· Judaizers—they kept the law in most minute fashion like Pharisees and didn’t see themselves as sinners
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· Pharisee means ‘Separated’ , ‘apart’
· ‘Are forgiven’ apheôntai to be pardoned.
· ‘For she loved much (hoti êgapêsen polu). Illustration or proof, not reason for the forgiveness.
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Themes
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· Ignored divine favour
· Envy, Murder, Adultery
· Condition of women
· Self-judgement
· Injustice to powerless
· Secret sin revealed
· Divine Correction
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· Confession of sin
· Acknowledgement of Yahweh’s deliverance
· Sin versus Freedom
· Gladness in being just and upright
· Teaching others
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· The Divine Gift
· How to be righteous
· How we are just & holy
· Observance of the Law
· Faith in Christ
· The merits of Christ’s sacrifice
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· Relationship between
Þ Good people & sinners
Þ God & sinners
Þ Forgiveness & love
Þ Condemnation
· Religious rules & Bias
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