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1. In one sense, you are a CAPTIVE AUDIENCE. The Discipline inherent in the commandments and laws of the church, obligate, make it necessary that you to be here. Your expectations then, of what you get on Sundays should be HIGH. Hopefully though, you are here because of a deep seated HUNGER for spiritual nourishment and inspiration. Now since the homily is an act of breaking open God’s WORD, your obligation, your hunger DEMANDS that the homily be some of the most important words you hear all week. The Homily should be HELPFUL in understanding scripture, APPLICABLE to your lives, MEMORABLE in content and MOTIVATING to all.

2. SIN is a DEPLORABLE reality in human history. SIN is a self-defeating and self-destructive love of self and things. SIN consists of a person looking to his own comfort, convenience, and pleasure, with not even a nod to the needs of other humans or the law of God. That law, which every human knows, because it is written on every human heart, is summarized in the application of God’s law, “…DO UNTO OTHERS as you would have them do unto you”. (Mt. 7:12)

3. This measuring stick for Sin, ‘DO UNTO OTHERS’, is laid out for us in our 1st reading from Samuel. To background our 1st reading, we must remember King David, the ideal king of the Old Testament, the first king in long dynasty that culminates in Jesus Christ, was deemed to be an ADULTERER and a MURDERER. King David did not NEED the 60 + Regulations of the Jewish law, to know that he should not have committed adultery with Uriah’s wife. He did not even NEED the 10 Commandments to understand that he shouldn’t have sent Uriah to his death to cover up the original crime. These SINFUL actions were obvious to his conscience, because he would not have wanted Uriah to do those things to him if the roles had been reversed. He knew they were sinful, first in his HEART and then through the LAW, but he did them anyway.

So today, when the prophet Nathan stood before David and accused him, “You are the man,” he did not plead excuses or pass the guilt down. He ADMITTED his sin, and REPENTED. So in God’s covenantal promises to David, God did not smite him or abandoned him. In fact, David heard Nathan pronounce the absolution: “God forgives you.” Truly, punishment would ensue, years of punishment, but David knew Divine forgiveness. In fact, David wrote psalm 32, today’s psalm, as a thanksgiving offering. “Lord forgive the wrong I have done.”

4. While the mercy of God for sinners, the eagerness Jesus demonstrates in forgiving sin and his welcoming attitude, is the principal teaching in our gospel story too; there is yet another lesson in it. And that is GTATITUDE.

If our sins have been forgiven and we have promised not to sin again, then what should flow out of that experience is: a SHOW of great love and actions that UNDERLIE our GRATITUDE. To help us understand what Gratitude is, the Gospel story compares the GENEROSITY of a sinner who had been forgiven with the STINGY Pharisee at the meal.

With the help of the customs and rituals of the time, in receiving guests: WASHING and then ANOINTING their feet and extending the KISS of peace; Jesus makes the comparison of how great love or gratitude is shown.

The actions of the woman who had sinned and the emotion in which they were extended (washing, anointing, sorrow and tears), were noted to be the example of ‘EXTREME gratitude’. While the ABSENCE of any of these customary actions by Simon the Pharisee was seen to be the testament of a ‘LESSER love’. Simon, while not guilty of any breach of hospitality, he at the same time, did not show any great act of care, as he did not offer water, oil or a sign of peace.

By the construction of this Gospel, it can be deduced the woman’s sins had already been forgiven. In the Gospel it does not even say what she did wrong, but we are free to understand, she felt the URGE to seek Jesus out and to show her GRATITUDE, to show her GREAT love in public, in a place where she was not welcome.

5. The challenge for us today is to identify with our readings. You can know if you have sinned in your heart or through the church. Sin is a deplorable selfish action. If you have sinned, own up to it. Repent and promise not to sin again. Seek His forgiveness in our sacrament of Penance. And for this magnanimous act on God’s part, think about how you can show your GRATITUDE to God for all that has done for us. The choices are many!

6. While the focus today was on forgiveness of sin, repentance and gratitude, I would be completely remiss if I didn’t SHOW one more aspect of it. …GRATITUDE must not be limited to just the forgiveness of sins. Gratitude for all things is a stance of the heart we must develop. For all that others have done for you, especially our parents, I hope you follow that URGE to show a grateful heart. Is OUR gratitude lavishly and generously bestowed on our parents and benefactors or does the STINGY side become apparent. Today on Father’s Day, instead of washing HIS feet…wash his car. Instead of anointing him… paint a room. And for the kiss of peace…spend some more time with him. And for those to whom it’s to late, say a prayer . GRATITUDE…it covers a multitude of sin and selfish action and it’s pleasing to the Lord.