Reflecting on the Word
By Rev. James A. Wallace, C.Ss.R.
How many times have we taken to heart the opening greeting often used at Sunday Eucharist: “May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you”? To live graciously is to live within and out of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In today’s reading from the Second Letter to the Corinthians, Paul commends the community for excelling in many ways but expresses the hope that they will excel in imitating the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is referring to their acting in imitation of Christ’s self-emptying. Christ who was rich in divinity became poor by pouring himself out for others. In self-offering, he gave himself both in ministry and especially on the cross, that others might be freed from the power of sickness and death.
Today we see Jesus graciously reach out to two desperate women. One had been hemorrhaging for twelve years, making her continually “unclean,” so she could not be in any contact with friends or family, or worship with others. She had lost everything, was truly impoverished. The other was a twelve-year-old girl whose frantic father had come for Jesus to heal her. To both women Jesus showed the gracious love of God, a healing touch restoring them to life.
The book of Wisdom states that God did not make death. God calls us to live graciously, generously. In Christ’s death and resurrection we glimpse the divine plan: that we die to self so as to live in God.
Consider/Discuss
- What does being gracious mean?
- How have you known the grace of God?
- Can you see ways in which God’s grace can touch others through you?
Responding to the Word
Amazing, gracious God, look kindly on us and fill us with your grace. Expand our hearts so we might be generous to others as you have been to us. Bless our days that we might spread the light of your life to those who feel trapped by the darkness.