Today's Theme: Hate Sin and not the Sinner
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 111.
Response: Great are the works of the Lord.
Gospel: (Luke 7:36-50)
Reflection
In today’s Gospel, Jesus accepts the invitation to dine with a Pharisee. This is striking, because we know how often Jesus spoke against the Pharisees, their hypocrisy, their pride, and the burdens they placed on others. Yet he still chose to sit at table with one of them. He rejected their actions, but he did not reject them as persons.
This is the lesson for us. To dislike someone’s behavior does not mean we must hate them. To criticize or be criticized is not the same as becoming enemies. Too often we treat criticism as opposition and opponents as enemies. We distance ourselves from friends who do not always take our side, and sometimes even expect others to share our dislikes. But this is not the way of Christ.
When people point out our faults, they may in fact be offering us a chance to grow. If we hate the truth, we will hate those who speak it. But if we desire to grow, we will humbly examine ourselves and accept correction.
Jesus teaches us to hate sin but love the sinner, to correct without condemning, and to receive correction without bitterness. Let us learn from his example.
God bless you
And stay blessed, Amen!
-Pal Ronnie-
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