Daily Readings - Thu Sep 19 2024
1 Corinthians
1And so I make known to you, brothers, the Gospel that I preached to you, which you also received, and on which you stand2By the Gospel, too, you are being saved, if you hold to the understanding that I preached to you, lest you believe in vain3For I handed on to you, first of all, what I also received: that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures4and that he was buried; and that he rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures5and that he was seen by Cephas, and after that by the eleven6Next he was seen by more than five hundred brothers at one time, many of whom remain, even to the present time, although some have fallen asleep7Next, he was seen by James, then by all the Apostles8And last of all, he was seen also by me, as if I were someone born at the wrong time9For I am the least of the Apostles. I am not worthy to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God10But, by the grace of God, I am what I am. And his grace in me has not been empty, since I have labored more abundantly than all of them. Yet it is not I, but the grace of God within me11For whether it is I or they: so we preach, and so you have believed
Luke
36Then certain Pharisees petitioned him, so that they might eat with him. And he went into the house of the Pharisee, and he reclined at table37And behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner, found out that he was reclining at table in the house of the Pharisee, so she brought an alabaster container of ointment38And standing behind him, beside his feet, she began to wash his feet with tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, and she kissed his feet, and she anointed them with ointment39Then the Pharisee, who had invited him, upon seeing this, spoke within himself, saying, "This man, if he were a prophet, would certainly know who and what kind of woman is this, who is touching him: that she is a sinner.40And in response, Jesus said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." So he said, "Speak, Teacher.41"A certain creditor had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty42And since they did not have the ability to repay him, he forgave them both. So then, which of them loves him more?43In response, Simon said, "I suppose that it is he to whom he forgave the most." And he said to him, "You have judged correctly.44And turning to the woman, he said to Simon: "Do you see this woman? I entered into your house. You gave me no water for my feet. But she has washed my feet with tears, and has wiped them with her hair45You gave no kiss to me. But she, from the time that she entered, has not ceased to kiss my feet46You did not anoint my head with oil. But she has anointed my feet with ointment47Because of this, I tell you: many sins are forgiven her, because she has loved much. But he who is forgiven less, loves less.48Then he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven you.49And those who sat at table with him began to say within themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?50Then he said to the woman: "Your faith has brought you salvation. Go in peace.
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the power of grace and the transformative nature of God’s love. In the first reading from 1 Corinthians, St. Paul emphasizes the core of the Gospel: Christ’s death for our sins and his resurrection on the third day. This is the foundation of our faith, the Good News that saves us. Paul humbly acknowledges his own unworthiness, having persecuted the Church, yet he recognizes that it is solely by God’s grace that he has become what he is. His words remind us that our faith is not about our own merits but about the boundless mercy of God.
In the Gospel, Luke presents a vivid contrast between the Pharisee and the sinful woman. The Pharisee, focused on outward appearances, judges the woman harshly, assuming that Jesus would not allow such a sinner to touch him. But Jesus sees the heart. The woman, overwhelmed by her sins, expresses her love and gratitude through her actions—washing his feet with tears and anointing them with ointment. Jesus forgives her sins, explaining that her great love is a response to the great forgiveness she has received. This story teaches us that true faith is not about self-righteousness but about recognizing our need for God’s mercy and responding with love.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God. Like Paul, we must acknowledge our own weaknesses and sins, and like the woman, we must approach God with humility and love. The resurrection of Christ, celebrated in the first reading, is the ultimate expression of God’s love and forgiveness. As we go about our daily lives, let us remember that we are saved by grace, not by our own efforts. May we, like the woman, love much because we have been forgiven much, and may our faith lead us to lives of gratitude, compassion, and service to others.