Reflection: His Mercy endures forever...

How great is God's mercy!  In the Gospel, we see the sinful woman come up behind Jesus at His feet weeping. She emptied herself out at His feet, seeking His mercy. 

A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.  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.  Luke 7:36-38

My pastor, in his homily, described the alabaster jar of oil.  He said to open the jar, the top of the jar had to be broken off and the oil poured out.  The woman kissed the feet of Jesus, dried them with her hair and then anointed His head and feet with the oil.  Like the oil, she poured herself out and gave everything she had.  She knows she is a sinner, but she comes to Jesus in love seeking forgiveness.  My pastor invited us to ponder how the woman poured all the oil out upon Jesus and how she poured herself out to Jesus.  She made a gift of herself to Him.  He said to listen to the words during the Mass about the Blood being poured out for you.  

Imagine you are the woman.  Place yourself in the scene.  As you come to Jesus, you are trembling. You approach Jesus and touch His feet and He reaches down and touches your head.  You lift your eyes to look at Him and His Love enters your heart.  You are filled with His love and mercy. The fragrance of the oil fills the room. Jesus gazes at you with great love.  He tells you your sins are forgiven.  You are overcome with joy by this personal encounter with Jesus.  Then He says to you, Go in peace.        

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever.  Psalm 118:1

Then Jesus turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman?  When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.  You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment.  So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”  He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”  The others at table said to themselves,  “Who is this who even forgives sins?”  But he said to the woman,  “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”  Luke 7:44-50

During Mass at the time of the Eucharistic Prayer, the priest calls down the Holy Spirit.  Through the prayers of the Consecration, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus. Our Lord becomes Present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.  

Here are the words of the priest praying over the wine:

In a similar way, taking the chalice, filled with the fruit of the vine, He gave thanks, and gave the chalice to His disciples saying, Take this all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of My Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.  Do this in memory of Me.

The oil is poured out; the sinful woman poured herself out; the Blood is poured out.  Let us ponder these words: "the chalice of My Blood poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins."

O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a Fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You. 

Today I saw the Crucified Lord Jesus.  Precious pearls and diamonds were pouring forth from the wound in His Heart.  I saw how a multitude of souls was gathering these gifts, but there was one soul who was closest to His Heart and she, knowing the greatness of these gifts, was gathering them with liberality, not only for herself, but for others as well.  The Savior said to me, Behold, the treasures of grace that flow down upon souls, but not all souls know how to take advantage of My generosity.  Dairy of Saint Faustina 1687

I have a beautiful small crucifix given to me by a friend.  It is unlike any crucifix I have ever seen. Standing by the side of the Cross is Mary holding a chalice to catch the precious Blood pouring out of the wound in His side.   

Stand beside Mary as she gathers the precious Blood into the chalice.  Pour out your heart to Jesus. From the wound in His Sacred Heart, He will pour out His love, grace and mercy upon you.  Gather these treasures for yourself and for others. 

Come to Jesus.  He is waiting for you.  He will receive you with open arms and He will pour out His love upon you.   O Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.  Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.