W e’ve forgotten what Jesus told the people who wanted to stone the adulterous woman to death. We’ve forgotten that our God not only forgives but transforms. He is the God of Second Chances. We are all called to be like Jesus.

Saturday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time

Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15a

Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12ab, 13

L uke 9:43b-45 And all were astonished at the majesty of God. But while they were all marveling at everything he did, he said to  his disciples, (44) "Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men." (45) But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

Meditation by Maryanne Rouse

St. Cosmas and St. Damian, are the patron saints, along with St. Luke, of physicians and surgeons.

I don’t know about you, but sometime after Vatican II, I seem to have lost my need for saints.  “Now you can go directly to Jesus,” I was told or at least heard.  There may be a difference.

But when Life Happens, I seek all the help I can find: Saints, saints, all three Persons of the Trinity and those saints and sinners still here whom I think may be willing to join in my urgent pleas to surround a situation or person in a cocoon of earnest intentions of positive energy and support.  “Pray for her pleezze. Pray very hard. Squeeze your eyes tight, reach into your heart, and send some love--NOW!”

I’m confronted with one of those times as I sit to pray with these readings on this Feast of Sts. Cosmas and Damian.

We are, most of us, confronted by one or more of these situations often: threatening news on an x-ray,  the loss of a job, the inability to help a child no matter how or what we try, the phone call about a past-due bill, concern about the unhealthy choices of a loved one.  You fill out the list for yourself.

“I will be for her an encircling wall of fire, says the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.” “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion . I am coming to dwell among you.  Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord and they shall be his people and he will dwell among you.” Zechariah 2:509, 14-15a, in today’s Reading.

Supplementary Reading

SECoND CHANCES

And you who once were alienated and hostile in mind because of evil deeds . . .  – Colossians 1:21

T here is so much unforgiveness in our world.. There’s a story about a convict that served time for drug-related felonies in Virginia . For eight years, he headed an organization that helped former prisoners seek employment and avoid returning to prison. He was quoted as saying, “God has forgiven me and transformed me.” However, he could not get a local executive position because of his previous crimes. It seemed that people had difficulty in forgiving and forgetting.

Our justice system in the Philippines is no less forgiving. We still maintain a death penalty for heinous crimes. There are many convicted political prisoners who have difficulty getting a parole because political kingpins have still not forgiven them. And on an individual basis, we’re also people who are prone to keeping grudges against those who’ve wronged us.

We’ve forgotten what Jesus told the people who wanted to stone the adulterous woman to death. We’ve forgotten that our God not only forgives but transforms. He is the God of Second Chances.

We are all called to be like Jesus. When that happens, forgiveness and reconciliation should come easy. Rolly España

REFLECTION:

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. (Lewis B. Smedes)

Lord, make me merciful like You.

For complete text of today's meditation/readings, please click any of the following links:

http://his-ways-better-than-our-ways.blogspot.com/

http://www.mabuhayradio.com/sections/the-daily-bread.html

http://butuanglobalforum.org/cgi-bin/dboard/YaBB.pl?num=1229339492/220

GOD BLESS US ALL!

O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!

PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.

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