A 63-Year Old Monsignor With a 40-year Ordained Brother Wishes to Thank You from The Bottom of His Heart! A title, a birthday, and an anniversary all crammed into one—No words can adequately express!  But any way, THANK YOU! Thank you parish and school staff and administration, and all of you volunteers who so passionately prepared a fantastic and life-long memorable celebration.  While I was so "out of body" during the whole experience, the photos are coming in and I am flabbergasted by what I see.  For some reason, the Lord saw fit to allow a coming together of occasions that made my life from childhood (presence of some of my family), through all of my assignments as deacon and priest, and to my present assignment as pastor of St. Rita, flash before my very eyes.  Surreal is the word that comes to mind. Unceasingly I continue to hear "What a fantastic choir you have!" "What a warm and wonderful parish you have! My priest brother, Bill, knew nothing of his inclusion (had he, he wouldn't have allowed it), but he is deeply thankful as well.  Other than our congratulations, his 40th anniversary had gone largely unnoticed. The bottom line for me is:  "Richard, get back to work!  You owe these people your best."  Truly I will never be able to thank you enough.  I hope my continued life and ministry with you will speak my heart.  Even the words for that have been gifted to me:  "HEAR I AM LORD, HEAR I AM." And right here is where I pray to stay.

This Sunday's Liturgy of the Word puts before us the Good News that those who have sinned much can be forgiven much.  In the first reading Nathan informs David that "the Lord, for his part, has forgiven him his sins—even though his sins were that he [David] killed Uriah the Hittite and took his wife for his own.  Jesus in the Gospel defends the "sinful city woman" and explains to Simon that she who has sinned much will be all the more grateful for the forgiveness she receives.  In fact he tells the woman that her faith has saved her and to "Go in peace."

Today's readings beg the question, "How ready are we to forgive?"  Certainly King David—at the very least—broke the law when he murdered and committed adultery.  Whatever the sinful woman from the city did was most certainly against the law.  It is Paul who addresses forgiveness and law when he writes to the Galatians: "...even we have believed in Christ Jesus that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.