We are now on the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Incidentally, we also celebrate this Sunday, Father’s Day. This Sunday, let us remember in our prayers our biological fathers, living or dead. Let us also remember in our prayers our spiritual fathers, past and present. Above all, let us tilt up our heads and recognize our Father in heaven. Jesus himself taught us to address Him, Our Father. What better term could you find than Father to address your creator? The word “Father” is a correlative term. It is not meant to stand by itself but finds more meaning when understood in relation to the other term to which it is related to, that is, a “child”. We are children of our Father in heaven who created us.
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“I have sinned against the Lord” – famous words of David based on the First Reading taken from 2 Samuel 12:7-10; 13. How many of us are humble enough to admit and also utter those words that we have sinned against the Lord? These were the humble words of David after Nathan the Prophet confronted him. What happens many times to us is we avoid the truth of our sinfulness. We even hide ourselves from the truth by justifying our sinfulness. What is worse is when we turn back and attack the prophet or the person who reminded us of the truth and of our sins.
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The strategy of Nathan the Prophet to humble David and admit his guilt was simply to enumerate the many blessings David received from God. Can you count your blessings? Can you identify your blessings from God and by doing so you can lead yourself to be more humble before your creator?
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The Gospel today relates to us the story of Pardon to a Sinful Woman. There are two main personalities in this Gospel that should help us examine our lives. The first is the sinful woman. Looking beyond her sinfulness, Jesus sees in her the great potential for love, for faith and for real hospitality. The second is the Pharisee named Simon. He is the model of the self-righteous as well as those who are judgmental. Now identify yourself whose personality you want to assume or who actually reflects your present life.
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“So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven because she has shown great love” – words of Jesus in the Gospel to remind, not only the Pharisee and the other dining guests, but us today. There is an interplay of forgiveness and love here. We want to be forgiven but do we want to embrace the demands of sharing our love? If we are forgiven, do we want to continue in the path of love? This path of love is gratitude. Let us be grateful when we are forgiven. And we can show this gratitude to God in our relationships with our fellowmen.
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Going back to Father’s Day, this could be an opportunity to ask for forgiveness from our fathers or may be, to forgive our fathers, in case. It is also an opportunity to show our love and recognize their love. I want to share you this message from the first card I received this Father’s Day 2013: A Father means so many things . . . an understanding heart, a source of strength and of support right from the very start, a constant readiness to help in a kind and thoughtful way, with encouragement and
forgiveness no matter what comes your way, a special generosity and always with affection, too. A Father means so many things when he is a man like you! And the card continues: Dear Father Ed, we are wishing you a special day because you, too are “Father” to many and deserves the accolades and prayers of the community that you shepherd. Mahalo for all you do for our OLPH Church community. God bless you! This card came from a couple who are always there to give personalized card in all special occasions throughout the year without failure. You know them for their dedication in their church ministry and the love for each other. Thank you and God bless you and your family!
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Thank you our dear parishioners for your active participation in the nomination of the new members of our Parish Pastoral Advisory Council this past weekend. The Orientation of those who accepted their nomination will be on Monday, 17 June 2013, starting at 6:30 in the evening here at OLPH Church. I will be there and see you.
