BEFORE YOU BEGIN:
Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit.
“THE PARACLETE, THE HOLY SPIRIT WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, WILL INSTRUCT YOU IN EVERYTHING, AND REMIND YOU OF ALL THAT I TOLD YOU.” (JOHN 14:26)
FIRST DAY Reread last week’s readings.
- What was a helpful or new thought from the readings or from the homily you heard on Sunday?
- From what you learned, what personal application did you choose to apply to your life this week?
SECOND DAY READ 2 SAMUEL 12:7-10 FIRST READING
(“I anointed you King of Israel”)
- Who was Nathan? 2 Samuel 7:2
- What did Nathan say to David in regards to the Parable in 2 Samuel 12:1-6? 2 Samuel 12:7
- What did Nathan say God had done for David? 2 Samuel 12:7-8
- What did David do with Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, and the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 2 Samuel 11:3-5
- What did David tell Joab, who was in command of the Army, to do and what happened to Uriah? 2 Samuel 11:15, 24
- What did David do in the sight of the Lord? 2 Samuel 12:9
- What would never depart from David’s house? 2 Samuel 12:10
- What did Jesus tell one of His disciples? Matthew 26:52
- What happened to David sons, Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah? 2 Samuel 13:28-29, 2 Samuel 18:14, 1 Kings 2:24-25
- As a result of David’s sin what did the Lord say he would do to his house, and what would happen in broad daylight? 2 Samuel 12:11
- David had done this deed in secret but the Lord will do what? 2 Samuel 12:12
Personal – What sin in your life has been passed on to your family?
THIRD DAY READ Galatians 2:16,19-21 SECOND READING
(“I have been crucified with Christ.”)
- How is a person not justified and how is a person justified? Galatians 2:16
- By who are we justified? Acts 13:37-39
- How did Paul die to the law? Galatians 2:19
- How was the law given and what comes through what comes through Jesus Christ? John 1:17
- Who does Paul live for and what has he done with Christ? Galatians 2:19
- What does Paul boast about and what has been crucified to him and him to it? Galatians 6:14
- Who lives in Paul? Galatians 2:20
- In who is Paul’s faith and what has he done for him? Galatians 2:20
- What does Paul not nullify? Galatians 2:21
- If justification comes through the law what did Christ do? Galatians 2:21
Personal – In what way do others see you living for God? What are area’s that you are living by the law that need to be changed? If you are doing all the right things but have a bad attitude reflect and see if you are doing them out of duty and living by the law.
FOURTH DAY READ LUKE 7:36-8:3 GOSPEL
(“She has shown great love.”)
- Who invited Jesus to dine with him? Luke 7:36
- Who learned that Jesus was dining at a Pharisees house and what did she bring with her? Luke 7:37
- Where did the woman stand and what did she do? Luke 7:38
- What did the Pharisee say to himself? Luke 7:39
- What did Jesus say to the Pharisee and what was his reply? Luke 7:40
- What did Jesus say about two people and what did he say the creditor did? Luke 7:41-42
- What was the question asked in Luke 7:42?
- What did Simon reply and what did Jesus tell him? Luke 7:43
- What three things did the Pharisee not do and what three things did the woman do? Luke 7:44-46
- What did Jesus say about her sins and what had the woman shown? Luke 7:47
- What did Jesus say to the woman and what did the others at table say? Luke 7:48-49
- What did Jesus tell the woman saved her and how did he tell her to go. Luke 7:50
Personal – What has been your response to the forgiveness of your sins by Jesus? How can you show great love to God and to your neighbor?
FIFTH DAY READ PSALM 32:1-2, 5, 7
(“…you took away the guilt of my sin.”)
Read and meditate on Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 7.
What is the Lord saying to you personally through the Psalm?
How can you apply this to your daily spiritual life?
SIXTH DAY READ ALL OF THE COMMENTARY
2 SAMUEL 12:7-10
This passage reveals to us the destructive power of sin and the consequences that happens as a result of sin. David, a special chosen man of God, fell to sin through murder, theft and adultery. He was confronted by his great friend, counselor, and Prophet Nathan. David admitted his guilt when Nathan told him “you are that man” and Nathan told him that the Lord had forgiven him but the consequences of his actions would be felt by his own family. His child by Bathsheba died and all his sons except Solomon died in violence.
He then cleansed himself and went into the Tabernacle and worshipped the Lord. Today we are faced with forgiveness for our sins, but there still is a consequence that must be paid for that sin. Like David who later became one of the greatest men that ever lived, we must repent, and enter into God’s will of love and obedience. David was called by God “A man after my own heart”, we are called to be the same. We may not sin as greatly as David, but there still will be consequences for our pride, rebellion, lying, criticism, etc. David’s response to God’s forgiveness was a life of love and obedience to God and ours should be the same.
GALATIANS 2:16, 19-21
We are being told in this passage that the law cannot save you. The law is like a mirror and shows you what you have done. Paul was trying to show them that if the law was salvation, then Christ Himself died in vain. The law can never make us acceptable to God and yet the law has a very important role to play in the life of a Christian. It protects us by setting up a standout of acceptable behavior and it very definitely convicts us of wrong doing. This can be the time or vehicle that lets us turn to the Lord for forgiveness. All sins have a consequence and we call that penance. All crimes have a consequence and we call that fines or prison. It is obvious that we cannot keep from breaking the commandments; therefore, it brings us into a deep trust in the healing power of the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. The law cannot save us only Jesus can, but the law can be a guide to living a better life for Christ. Because we have all been infected by sin, we cannot keep God’s laws perfectly. We can only trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins, then and only then do we become acceptable to God. Christ did not die in vain, His death on the cross brought freedom to the whole world.
LUKE 7:36-8:3
This passage reveals to us some very strong customs of the people in Jesus’ time. Jesus reclined at the table, a normal posture because he propped up on His elbow to eat at the table. This was why the woman had such easy access to Jesus’ feet and head. The host normally greeted his guest with a kiss, Jesus did not receive one. Washing the dusty feet of guests was very normal and the anointing of the guest heads by the host was very traditional. Jesus did not get these courtesies by the host. The sinful woman washes His feet with her tears, dried His feet with her hair and even anointed Him with her special perfume. She did for Jesus more than the host did for Him. Her showing such reverence for Jesus is a sign that she has experienced being forgiven by Him and the consequence of that forgiveness is demonstrated by her great love for Jesus.
This example is also spelled out by the comparison of the two men who owed a debt to the creditor. The one who has been forgiven much will return much love to the forgiver than the one who had less to be forgiven. Christ forgives today all those who come to Him. His Holy Spirit draws us to ask Jesus for forgiveness. Jesus’ death on the cross won freedom for the whole world and we show our gratitude by loving others as He loves us (John 13:34). She anointed Him with oil and He anointed her with forgiveness. Let us do no less than he did with one another. Love is a decision and forgiveness is also a decision. Unforgiveness is the greatest blockage to healing so let us forgive and experience God’s never ending forgiveness.
Application
In the first reading David was confronted by Nathan of his sinfulness. In the second reading Paul lives by faith because he knows God loves him and in the Gospel the woman responds to Jesus love and forgiveness by serving Him.
Examine your conscience and see if you have had to be confronted by another to see your sinfulness or have you seen yourself as with great sin. Respond to God by imitating David, Paul and the sinful woman to your family.