Passion Week continues

Deus, in adjutorium meum intende. Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina.
O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me.

   A few blogs ago I talked about the "Station" churches in Rome.  Today, the Station is at a church built around 780 by Pope Adrian I. It stands on the ruins of an ancient temple and is in honor of a holy martyr, Apollinaris, a disciple of Peter and Archbishop of Ravenna.

  The Introit from today's Mass is from Daniel 3.31. He recalls the humiliation of the people of Israel who were delivered to their enemies "on account of their sins."  The Church also mourns over the bad Christians, pagans, and those under the sway of Satan. 

   The Epistle is also from Daniel 3. 25, 34-35 and, with Azarias, the Church asks the Lord "that all those who ill-treat His servants may be confounded, for it is with a contrite and humble heart they they return to God." We hope that God will "multiply (His people) as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the sea shore."  We should heed the prayer of Azarias, continuing, "for we, O Lord, are diminished more than any nation, and are brought low in all the earth this day for our sins."  We ask God's mercy. "And now we follow Thee with all our heart, and we fear Thee, and seek Thy face."

   The Gospel is Luke 7: 36-50. It takes place in the second year of Jesus' public ministry. He was to dine in the house of Simon, the Pharisee.  It is considered by many that the woman, a public sinner, who washes Christ's feet with her tears and wipes them with her hair was Mary of Magdala (Magdalene), sister of Lazarus and Martha. When Simon was taken aback that Christ would let the sinner touch him, Christ told of two debtors, one of whom owed much, the other a little. The creditor forgave both their debts. Christ asked Which of the two would have loved the creditor more. Simon said the one who owed most. Our Lord said, "....I entered into thy house, thou gaves Me no water for My feet: but she with tears hath washed My feet, and with her hairs hath wiped them..........Wherefore I say to thee: Many sins are forgiven her, because she hath loved much. But to whom less is forgiven, he loveth less."  As always in His dealings with sinners, or the people he healed, Christ said to her, "Thy sins are forgiven thee. Thy faith hath made thee safe: go in peace."

   There was the usual reaction. They wondered who this was that could forgive sins. People continue to be dense and refuse to open their eyes to Divinity, even when it stares them in the face.  We have much to atone for in this world of fallen humanity. Even those who say they believe continue to oppose God's laws by thwarting them or disobeying them.  We are being chastised for our infidelity. We can pray with Daniel (Introit): 

   All that Thou hast done to us, O Lord, Thou hast done in true judgment: because we have sinned against Thee, and have not obeyed Thy commandments: but give glory to Thy name, and deal with us according to the multitude of Thy mercy.

Pray, Sacrifice, Give Alms. We continue to examine ourselves during Lent and, with Mary Magdalene, show our sorrow for the sins we daily commit, and regain our friendship with God.