September 20, 2018 Thursday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time-B ST. ANDREW KIM TAE-GON, PRIEST, AND PAUL CHONG HA-SANG, AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS.

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Psalm 118

Luke 7:36-50

But by the grace of God I am what I am… 1 Cor. 15:10

“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Lk. 7:50

Lord, without your grace, Paul would have continued to persecute your followers.  Without your grace, the sinful woman would have continued in her ways.  You offered grace to your host at the dinner but he didn’t accept it, at least as far as we know.   If we truly realized the power of your grace, the reality of your endless mercy and your total desire to forgive we could never remain the same.  I am what I am but you are not satisfied with leaving me that way.  Lord, I too have sinned.  I pray I have confessed and have been forgiven for all the sins of my past life.  I want to have the love of the woman in the story who not only sought your forgiveness but repented of her life as well.  Her actions spoke louder than any words she could have spoken.  Paul’s life of spreading the gospel spoke louder than any preaching.  May I choose to be transformed by you so I can become free of guilt and regret.  May my faith be so strong that I accept and embrace you as my Lord and savior.  By your grace I am what I am.  Amen.