Remember your last days; set enmity aside.

“Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times." (Matthew 18: 21 - 23).

The Holy Spirit has One lesson for the Church this Sunday, the 24th in Ordinary Time. FORGIVE EVERYONE WHO OFFENDS YOU. NOT ONCE OR A HUNDRED TIMES BUT IF NECESSARY, A BILLION TIMES.

That's how God deals with us. "I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to."  (Matthew 18: 32).

"Forgive your neighbor the wrong done to you; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven.
Does anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the Lord?" (Sirach 28: 2 - 3).

Sirach gives one further good reason to forgive:
"Remember your last days and set enmity aside; remember death and decay, and cease from sin!
Remember the commandments and do not be angry with your neighbor."  (Sirach 28: 6 - 7).

God constantly surprises us with His mercies as the Responsorial Psalm for this Sunday reminds us:
"He pardons all your sins, and heals all your ills." (Psalm 103: 3).
"He has not dealt with us as our sins merit, nor requited us as our wrongs deserve." (Psalm 103: 10).
"As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our sins from us."  (Psalm 103: 12).

Ask for mercy.
Be merciful.
Completely trust Jesus for mercy.

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Have mercy on me God and blot out my transgressions.

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
Of these I am the foremost.
But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life."  (1 Timothy 1: 16 - 17).

Paul regarded himself as an example of a great sinner.  Why then did Jesus chose for such a lofty mission and place in His Kingdom? Precisely because of the marked weakness of St Paul.  We are rightly encouraged to believe that if Jesus wiped out the sins of Paul and filled him with grace and mercy, He will do the same for us.

Other examples of great sinners who were restored and filled with grace and mercy:
King David, St Augustine, St Mary Magdalene.

"God creates out of nothing. Wonderful you say. Yes, to be sure, but he does what is still more wonderful: he makes saints out of sinners."  (Søren Kierkegaard).

St Ignatius of Loyola who was no stranger to sin and repentance said that it is impossible to recognize our sins unless we can perceive inwardly that the Redeemer is standing very close to us to embrace us.

The Miserere (Psalm 51)is God's inspired Prayer-Psalm for the sinner. I have used it often and I guarantee that it is effective.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2: 8).

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Paul, an example of God's great Mercy

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
Of these I am the foremost.
But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life."  (1 Timothy 1: 16 - 17).

Paul regarded himself as an example of a great sinner.  Why then did Jesus chose for such a lofty mission and place in His Kingdom? Precisely because of the marked weakness of St Paul.  We are rightly encouraged to believe that if Jesus wiped out the sins of Paul and filled him with grace and mercy, He will do the same for us.

Other examples of great sinners who were restored and filled with grace and mercy:
King David, St Augustine, St Mary Magdalene.

"God creates out of nothing. Wonderful you say. Yes, to be sure, but he does what is still more wonderful: he makes saints out of sinners."  (Søren Kierkegaard).

St Ignatius of Loyola who was no stranger to sin and repentance said that it is impossible to recognize our sins unless we can perceive inwardly that the Redeemer is standing very close to us to embrace us.

The Miserere (Psalm 51)is God's inspired Prayer-Psalm for the sinner. I have used it often and I guarantee that it is effective.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2: 8).

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Mary stood under the cross to the end.

"Standing by the cross of Jesus was his mother."  (John 19: 25).

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Mary did not run away from the cross. She could not pull Jesus down from the cross. Mary could not attack the Roman soldiers with spears or sticks.  She just stood by the cross, absorbing everything; time passing so slowly. Yes, this is her destiny. This is the moment. She has become Sorrow personified. She has become prematurely Our Lady of Sorrows. She has become Mother of all the sorrowful.  "And a sword will pierce your own soul too."  (Luke 2: 35).  Simeon prophesied.

"Christ learned obedience and became the source of eternal salvation."  (Hebrews 5: 8 - 9).

O Mary, what did you learn standing under the cross?

"Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary;
without dying you won the martyr’s crown beneath the Cross of the Lord."  (Gospel Acclamation on the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows).

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When I am lifted up, I will draw everyone to Myself.

"We should glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection,
through whom we are saved and delivered."  (Cf Galatians 6: 14).

Glorifying in the Cross? Glorifying in humiliation, suffering and pain? Really? Then tell me to glorify in Hurricane Irma and Harvey!!
That is the point.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways—oracle of the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, my thoughts higher than your thoughts.  (Isaiah 55: 8 - 9).

"And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”  (John 12: 32).

"We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your Cross you have redeemed the world."  (Gospel Acclamation, Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross).

"O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son should undergo the Cross to save the human race,
grant, we pray, that we, who have known his mystery on earth,
may merit the grace of his redemption in heaven.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever."  (Collect on the Feast of the Exultation of the Cross, Thursday, September 14th).

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Share your bread with the hungry.

“Blessed are you who are poor,
 for the kingdom of God is yours."  (Luke 6 : 20).

What is your attitude to money? Are you scared to death of poverty? Don't be ashamed. I used to be in that club a little while ago. When you discover the truth of the real freedom and victory that Jesus came to give us, you will be laughing and jumping for joy.

Today is the feast of St John Chrysostom, Father and Doctor of the Church.  John was the Archbishop of Constantinople, now Istanbul (Turkey), then the 2nd most important city in the world. St John Chrysostom challenged the rich and powerful to find and enjoy genuine freedom and victory in their lives by sharing their wealth with the poor. He said among other things:

"Not to share our own wealth with the poor is theft from the poor and deprivation of their means of life; we do not possess our own wealth, but theirs."
(Saint John Chrysostom).

The pathway to victory and freedom passes through the doors of the poor.

"Seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth."  (Colossians 3: 1- 2).

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Jesus healed everyone who came to Him in expectant faith.

"Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all."  (Luke 6 : 19).

God is the Father of all. (Ephesians 4: 6).  God loves everything He created. (Psalm 145: 9).  Jesus, the true image of Abba Father has no problem healing everyone who came to Him with faith. (Colossians 1: 15; Luke 6: 19).

Jesus desires everyone to be saved which is a bigger deal than being healed of the worst disease. (1 Timothy 2: 4). Because He desired everyone to be saved, He showed this by dying for everyone. (2 Corinthians 5: 15). He forgave all those who crucified Him not after the event but while still on the cross experiencing the excruciating agony. (Luke 23: 34). Even the Good Thief who was crucified with Jesus had all his sins wiped out and promised Paradise then and there. (Luke 23: 43).

Today is the feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary.

"Glorious things are spoken of you, O Virgin Mary,
for he who is mighty has done great things for you."  (Cf Luke 1: 49).

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Show mercy when You judge me, Your servant.

"Lord, You are just, and the judgments You make are right. Show mercy when you judge me, Your servant." (Psalm 118: 137, 124 - Entrance Antiphon Monday 23rd Week in Ordinary Time).

As I considered my will and the final minutes in this world, I chose the above as my last prayer.

"Only in God be at rest, my soul, for from him comes my hope.
He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed."

In God is my safety and my glory.

"Trust in him at all times, O my people!
Pour out your hearts before him;
God is our refuge!"  (Psalm 62: 6 - 7, 9).

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, we love You. We trust in You. Have mercy on us and the whole world. Amen!

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