Compassion (Lk 7:37-39) by Sara Beaner

19 Sep Compassion (Lk 7:37-39) by Sara Beaner

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB).  Leaders.  Guest Authors.
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“Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee.  Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears.  Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.  When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.'” ~ (Lk 7:37-39) (full readings)
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Sara’s Reflections:  How many times do WE fail or neglect to pour water over Jesus’ feet and kiss them?  WE go into the Church and He is our guest there, in our tabernacles, but WE are so busy thinking of ourselves that WE fail to treat Our Precious Jesus as Our Lord, Our Savior, and Our Guest with Love, Respect, and Reverence.  WE forget to wash His feet and kiss them.  In the Gospel today, do WE know who this woman is who is coming to Jesus?  Could she be a coworker, a sister, a friend, a neighbor, or a complete stranger, who had an abortion and is begging Jesus to forgive her?  Do WE say to ourselves out of pride, “She is one of those women,” and not forgive or help her?  Take a closer look at the woman.  The tears she sheds are OUR  tears of sorrow over the many babies that have died because of abortion, babies that maybe WE could have saved.  And the kisses are OUR kisses telling Jesus how sorry WE are and how much WE LOVE him and NEED His forgiveness for our many sins.  It is Jesus who can’t wait to be with us in the Holy Eucharist at every Mass around the world, even though at times WE fail to acknowledge his presence with great AWE, WONDER, LOVE, RESPECT, and REVERENCE.  How can WE not treat the broken hearted women who have had abortions with the same forgiveness that Jesus gives us?  WE as LIFE RUNNERS and ALL of us should not only run to Jesus and wash and kiss His feet, but anoint HIM with Great Love and Sacrifices so WE can be at Peace as WE run for Him.
* Sara Beaner is the mother of 10 children (3 in Heaven due to miscarriage).  She home schools her children.  Sara is active at the St. Joseph Cathedral in Sioux Falls, SD and restores statues for churches.
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Faith Challenge:  Pray and reflect on how many times WE were not compassionate to women who have had abortions when WE could have been.  Ask Jesus for forgiveness, show compassion to ALL WE meet today, and ask Jesus to help us to be more focused on Him in Church.
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Counter-Culture News:  LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, Vatican, Project Rachel.
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Our Prayers:  Pray LIFE Runners Creed to end abortion.  Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, unceasingly. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
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Feast Day:  Saint Januarius.
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Faith Quote:  “Jesus loved and still loves the unwanted and the unloved. He loves them deeply. He died for them, and he doesn’t stop saying:  ‘Love one another as I have loved you.  As the Father loves me, love one another.'” ~ Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
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Through Christ Our Lord,
Sara