Your faith has saved you

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I Love You Lord

Steffany Gretzinger

Today is Thursday the 17th of September, the feast of Saint Robert Bellarmine SJ, in the 24th week of Ordinary Time.

Steffany Gretzinger sings, ‘I Love You Lord.' As we begin this time, make these words your simple prayer: ‘I Love You Lord’.

I love You, Lord

And I lift my voice

To worship You

Oh, my soul rejoice

Take joy, my King

In what You hear

May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear

3:33

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 7:36-50

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.’ Jesus spoke up and said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ ‘Teacher,’ he replied, ‘speak.’ ‘A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?’ Simon answered, ‘I suppose the one for whom he cancelled the greater debt.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘You have judged rightly.’ Then turning towards the woman, he said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.’ Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’ And he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’

7:14

I Love You Lord (Instrumental)

Steffany Gretzinger

Imagine you are a guest at the dinner in Simon’s house. Who is with you? Notice their faces, their expressions, their posture.

Notice what you can see... hear... smell... what is the food like?

Where is Jesus? Notice what he is doing and how he seems...

As you watch, a woman enters. She approaches Jesus and begins to anoint and kiss his feet, weeping and drying them with her hair.

Stay with this moment. What is this scene stirring within you? What do you want to say to the woman? How does she respond to you?

You hear Jesus tell Simon a story about two people in debt, one owing much and one just a little – both are forgiven. What point is Jesus making? How do you respond to the words of Jesus?

As this time of prayer comes to an end, give thanks for the gift of God’s forgiveness. Leave this place in peace, carrying God’s forgiveness with you.

13:55

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen