11TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME : THE GREAT LOVE OF GOD WE EXPERIENCE IN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS..........

Every Sunday and Holyday, we recite the Nicene Creed at Mass. As tempted as we might be on hot summer days to skip over it, we don't for the Creed, which is our Profession of Faith, essentially defines who we are and what we believe as Catholic-Christian Disciples. One of the articles we proclaim in reciting the Creed is our faith belief, "in the forgiveness of sins". Our personal and communal need for the forgiveness of our sins is equal to the Israelites need for forgiveness in today's 1st Scrpture Reading, 2 Samuel 12: 7-10, 13; and that of the Sinful Woman, in the Gospel Proclamation, Luke 7: 36 - 8: 3. David was anointed King of Israel by the Lord God to be faithful leader of God's People. Yet King David sinned, and was in need of the Lurd's forgiveness. But equally important is that David confessed his sin and sought the Lord's forgiveness. The Sinful Woman sought to come to Jesus, despite her failings in the house of a Pharisee who would only be critical and condemning of her no matter her sincerity and sorrow for her sins, because she believed Jesus would help her and forgive her. The Sinful Woman's love for Jesus she expressed in her tender and attentive ministrations to Him, bathing his feet with her tears and toweling them dry with her hair. Her humbleness in kissing Jesus' feet, was a further sign of her love and atonement. We too, have the need to be forgiven and to seek forgiveness. Our fallen human nature and weakness to sin, contends with our discipleship of Jesus, the former causing our need to be forgiven, and the latter requiring our need to seek forgiveness. As you journey into the wider world this 11th Week of Ordinary Time may God's Sunday Word and Eucharist, strengthen and increase in you the desire to be forgiven your sins and the resolve to seek and grant forgiveness..........In The Love And Forgiveness Of Jesus The Christ, Fr. Troy