Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 19, 2024
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 15.1-11
1Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,2and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain.3For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.6Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.8Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.9For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.11Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Psalm 118
1Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!2Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever."3Let the house of Aaron say, "His steadfast love endures forever."4Let those who fear the LORD say, "His steadfast love endures forever."5Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free.6The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?7The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.8It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.9It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.10All nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!11They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!12They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!13I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me.14The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.15Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,16the right hand of the LORD exalts, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!"17I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.18The LORD has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death.19Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.20This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.21I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.22The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.23This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.24This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.25Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success!26Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD.27The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!28You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.29Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
Gospel: Luke 7.36-50
36One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table.37And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment,38and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.39Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner."40And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he answered, "Say it, Teacher."41"A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.42When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?"43Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt." And he said to him, "You have judged rightly."44Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.45You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.46You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.47Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven--for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little."48And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."49Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?"50And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; 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.