April 5 to April 11, 2009
The Lord's Healing and Forgiveness

"Kapiling mo Akong laging naghihintay sa tanging tawag mo.
Pag-ibig Kong ito isang pananabik sa puso Ko
Sa 'yong pagbabalik sa piling Kong puspos ng pagsuyo
Manahimik at makinig ka't maging Akin muli."

Grace:

My Lord Jesus, I beg for the grace of courage and radical transparency, so that I can face my own sinful self, including my areas of vulnerability and pain, and experience your gentle healing touch.

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

36Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them 39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is-that she is a sinner." 40Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."        "Tell me, teacher," he said. 41"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" 43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."        "You have judged correctly," Jesus said. 44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven-for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." 48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" 50Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Guide to Reflection:

Get in touch with your own areas of pain, including your unfreedoms, things that are keeping you from going back to the Lord, fears, burdens, anger, pride, depression, sense of hopelessness. Allow all these to surface one by one in prayer.

When ready, present all these pains and areas of difficulties to the Lord for His gentle healing touch. As you present these to the Lord, imagine Him before you extending His hand and gently touching and healing you from all these afflictions.

Take time to just feel (and even weep) with the Triune God as they look upon our sinful world which they initially created in love. Feel sincere sorrow and contrition for the sinfulness of the world, for your own sinfulness as well, and boldly beg our Triune God for genuine forgiveness and healing in our world.

It is said that once the Child Jesus appeared to St. Jerome asking, "Jerome, what will you give me this Christmas?" And Jerome said, "Lord, what more can I give you? I have given you my all. I have given you my entire life." And the Child Jesus responded, "There is one more thing that you can give me." "And what is that?" the saint asked. "Jerome," our Lord said, "Give me your sins."

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Grace:

I come before You, Lord, and offer our woundedness. Anoint me and bless me with Your love and mercy. Fill my heart with an overwhelming desire to love You, and serve You. Make me Your instrument so others may also hear Your call for reconciliation. Use my talents, talents You graciously gave me, and even my journeys through sin, to help me become who You want me to be. Mold me and move me that I may serve as a vessel for which You call others to come to You.

Thank you, Lord, for choosing me, for being patient with me, for loving me even more than we can possibly understand. Thank You.

Thank you for taking this journey with us in prayer. We hope that you have had a more meaningful Lenten season with our reflections and songs. To culminate our journey down the Easter road, please watch out for our Easter concert which we will be making availble online on April 25, see you then!