The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, November 4, 2004
Thursday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
St. Charles Borromeo, bishop

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Philippians 3:3-8
Psalm 105:2-7
Luke 15:1-10

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them. . ."

Hallelujah! This Man welcomes sinners and eats with them. What could possibly be better news for us? I, for one, will not refuse a gift outright given. The Son of God welcomes sinners. Me, you, everyone. And He eats with us and shares with us the precious food that is His body and Blood.

The next time you fail, remember with joy, "This Man welcomes sinners and eats with them." What was meant to express His deep shame has become His victory and our amazing and unending joy. When overcome with our own worthlessness, when despairing of ever getting better, when thinking for a moment about our own condition, let's always bring to mind, "This Man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

Praise God, what a wonderful promise, what a beautiful savior! What more could we ask for than that God Himself should eat with us and share Himself with us. Throughout the day let's remind ourselves, "This Man welcomes sinners and eats with them." And then remember the age-old wisdom as we approach the altar, "You are what you eat." We too become the Man who welcomes sinners and eats with them. The whole kingdom rejoices in our transformation and in the transformation of all around us.

Keep as an inspiration to hope, this wonderful criticism that has become our glory. "This Man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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posted by joachim at 5:54 AM