The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday, Memorial of St. Cornelius, Pope, and St. Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs, 16 September 2021 1 Timothy 4:12-16 ><]]]]'> + <'[[[[>< ><]]]]'> + <'[[[[>< Luke 7:36-50
Praise and glory to you, God our loving Father for the abundant grace you bless us daily but many times we take for granted or fail to see and realize; may we heed the words of St. Paul to the young Timothy:
Beloved: Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was conferred on you through the prophetic word with the imposition of hands of the presbyterate.
1 Timothy 4:12, 14
Most of all, may we nurture every opportunity you give us to be holy and better persons like that sinful woman who went into Simon the Pharisee's home to wash and anoint the feet of your Son Jesus Christ.
At the same time, make us stop having that sense of special entitlement to your grace and salvation for you have sent Jesus for everyone for all time to forgive our sins, and therefore, there is no reason too for any of us to have contempt on the young nor sinners.
Jesus said to Simon: “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.”
Luke 7:47
May we be like St. Cornelius when he was the Pope supported by St. Cyprian who was the bishop of Carthage in welcoming back to the Church those who have lapsed in their faith during the persecution; like them, may we recognize that your grace works best among the weakest and lowly; may we stop being rigorists, of being so stiff and harsh with sinners and others who are weak like the Pharisees who see more of themselves than you in Jesus Christ who had come to make us whole again in you and with one another.
We pray, dear God, through these two great saints during the harsh persecution periods of the second century that we learn some leniency towards others, to be more kind and understanding in this time of the pandemic with those who have less in life because your grace is always more than enough for each one of us. Amen.
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