20th February, Saturday.
I. Is 58: 9-14
II. LK 5: 27-32
Theme: “Love Heals”
“I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.” It is a statement open to all humanity in need of redemption. It is an affirmation that shows us that God is not exclusive. Christ has come for all sinners, and he extends to everyone his call to repentance and be transformed by his grace. It shows us that Christ wants to reach everybody and forgive everybody. He is not like us, who discriminate and hold grudges. When someone sins more, God makes particular efforts to reach that person and offer his pardon and his elevating grace. What an example for us to follow when we have difficult moments in our dealings with others! Christ teaches us patience. Christ teaches us that we must love and build bridges whenever the opportunity arises.
Christ sets the example and sends us to evangelize people who do not know him, or who offend him knowingly, half-knowingly, or even unknowingly. Interestingly it is those who oppose Christ whom he calls so called “righteous,” because they are inflexible, and their criteria cannot be bent. Christ calls us, on the other hand, to forgive, as often as is necessary. We need to learn how to forgive in a world that tells us to be tough and not to let anything get past us. We are all sinners. We all need to be forgiven and to forgive one another. We all need to allow love of God to invade our hearts so that it may be the bond that reunites us.
Bro. John Bosco SMM
II BTh