Cycle C

Good News C30

11^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Luke 7:36—8:3 or Luke 7:36-50 New American Bible

Luke 7:36-50 New International Version Bible Gateway

The Sinful Woman Washes the Feet of Jesus

Jesus spoke up in defense of the sinful woman. She had washed his feet with her tears. There may be times in your life when you will cry enough tears to wash your Lord’s feet. Each time you are sad and do something to help someone, you are washing your Lord’s feet. Each time you are happy and share your good news and what you have with others, you are washing your Lord’s feet. When you would rather be playing outside with your friends, but you stay inside and help your Mother with the dishes, you are washing your Lord’s feet.

No human being is perfect. Everyone has faults. You may make mistakes, even when you try to do things right. Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the tree that was forbidden. The devil tricks you into believing that what you are doing wrong can actually help you. For example, he can tell you that taking a toy from your friend’s house will help you. You will have a new toy. However, he doesn’t tell you about how your friend will not trust you in his house again. For every reason you have for doing wrong, God can fill you with ten reasons for doing the right thing.

Ten Reasons for Doing the Right Thing

1. God loves you and wants you to do the right thing.

2. God wants you to enter heaven to be with him forever.

3. God sent his Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross so that your sins could be forgiven.

4. You will get more graces to help you overcome other problems.

5. You can overcome your faults with God’s help. It will be better if you do good things to make God happy with you.

6. Turning your back on God means not going to heaven.

7. You will be at peace if you do the right thing.

8. Your conscience will not bother you if you do the right thing.

9. God will be very proud of you if you do the right thing.

10. You will be stronger if you do the right thing.

Say the “Our Father” and remember that God loves you very much. He notices the little things you do for him. He sees you when you open the door and hold it for someone. He notices when you help your Mother wash the dishes or fold the towels and put them away. He notices when you get clean up a mess that someone made. He will bless you big for each small thing you do.

“Our Father, who art in Heaven,

Hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day, our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.”

Copyright © 2004 Joan Y. Edwards