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Men of Epiphany will be meeting this Saturday, June 16th, 6:30 a.m. in the Hearth room. If you can make it, this study is a marvelous preparation for each week's Mass readings.

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Knowing Jesus’ Love and Then Giving it Away

Sunday, June 17, 2007
2 Samuel 12:7-10,13
Psalm 32:1-2,5,7,11
Galatians 2:16,19-21
Luke 7:36–8:3

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Today’s Gospel reading is a tale of two attitudes. It contrasts a person who loved Jesus with a person who loved to discuss theology with Jesus. While analysis and critical thinking are good things, if they are not combined with love, they are lacking something vital.

Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus to dinner. He was clearly hospitable and open toward Jesus. It seems that he genuinely wanted to find out more about Jesus. The sinful woman, on the other hand, burst into Simon’s house because she already knew who Jesus was—and because she knew who she was.

Because these two people viewed Jesus differently, they treated him differently. The woman loved Jesus “much” because she was forgiven “much.” Simon reacted negatively to the woman’s displays of love because he knew her reputation and he didn’t believe that righteous people should mix with public sinners. This encounter between the woman and Jesus didn’t fit into his categories of righteousness.

Simon doubted Jesus because he disagreed with the way this rabbi from Galilee welcomed such affection from a sinner. “How,” he wondered, “can this woman presume to waltz in here and expect to be forgiven so quickly and easily? And how could Jesus be much of a prophet at all if he was unable to see what kind of woman she really is?”

If we see ourselves as being pretty good and not really needing Jesus’ redemption, we are not all that likely to have much compassion for others. However, if we consider ourselves to be lost without Jesus, then we are more likely to view others with compassion because we realize where we ourselves would be without him. We would identify more with the sinful woman than with Simon the Pharisee.

Jesus wants us to know that there is a big difference between being a good host and loving him. He wants us to experience his love to such a degree that our hearts are opened to everyone around us.

“Lord, teach me how to love others just as deeply as you love them.”

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. In today’s first reading, Nathan reveals to David the consequences of his murder of Uriah. Why do you think David is still called a “man after God’s heart” in spite of this horrible sin?
2. The responsorial psalm speaks of the fruit of repentance in the psalmist’s life? How would you describe the fruits of repentance in your life?
3. In the second reading, Paul says that he has been “crucified with Christ.” What does this mean? In what ways have you been “crucified with Christ”?
4. In the Gospel, the woman with the alabaster jar performs a great deed out of love for Jesus. Then Jesus proclaims these amazing words, “So I tell you her many sins have been forgiven, because she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” What do these words mean to you, and how do they apply to your life?
5. The meditation ends with these words. “Jesus wants us to know that there is a big difference between being a good host and loving him. He wants us to experience his love to such a degree that our hearts are opened to everyone around us.” What steps can you take to experience more deeply the love that Jesus has for you? What steps can you take to give that love to others?

Come Holy Spirit!  ~  Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and en kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your spirit and they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. Let us pray: O God, you taught the hearts of your faithful by sending them the light of your Holy Spirit. In that same spirit give us your right judgment and the joy of your consolation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

Prayer to St. Joseph  ~  Glorious St. Joseph, guide and protector of the Holy Family, we ask that you obtain for us from your son, Jesus, the strength and wisdom to lead our families to their Father in heaven. Most Chaste spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may we imitate your obedience to the will of God and be ever mindful of the vocation to which we have been called. Amen