September 24, 2023: God’s Ways Are Not Our Ways

The story of St. Maria Goretti is a powerful one… a young girl, taking care of her younger siblings, fighting off an attacker who attempted to rip her of her innocence. She ended up dying from the 14 stab wounds that she received during that attack- but not before forgiving her attacker. An equally powerful story- is that of her attacker, Alessandro. After spending years of refusing responsibility for his actions, he eventually makes a complete conversion when Maria Goretti appeared to him in his prison cell, offering him 14 roses as a sign of forgiveness for the 14 stab wounds. He makes a confession, serves his sentence, goes on to take care of her aging mother- to whom he sits next to during Maria’s canonization, and lives out his life as a friar. Father Loomis compares Alessandro’s story and that of today’s readings. Society would have likely Alessandro be hanged for his crimes, but God says “my ways are not your ways”. Even when we forfeit our relationship with God, taking us into our own prison created by our sinfulness, God still desires to grace us with his mercy. “My justice is not your justice. Let me love you. Don’t take that opportunity away from me”, is how Father Loomis shares his portrayal of that mercy. “God’s ways are not our ways… and thank God for it.” 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time- First Reading: Isaiah 55:6-9 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18 Second Reading: Philippians 1:20-24, 27 Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16