Daily Readings - Thu Sep 16 2021
1 Timothy
12Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.13Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.14Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.15Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.16Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Luke
36And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.37And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,38And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.39Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.40And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.41There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.42And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?43Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.44And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.45Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.47Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.48And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.49And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?50And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the transformative power of love, humility, and faith. In the first reading from 1 Timothy, St. Paul encourages Timothy to embrace his role as a leader in the faith, despite his youth, by living as an example of virtue and dedication. He reminds Timothy that the gifts he has received are not to be taken lightly but nurtured and shared with others. This passage emphasizes the importance of living out our faith with integrity and purpose, regardless of our age or position in life.
The Gospel from Luke presents a vivid contrast between the Pharisee’s judgment and the sinful woman’s act of love. The Pharisee, focused on appearances and rules, questions Jesus’ identity as a prophet because he allows a sinner to touch him. Meanwhile, the woman, overwhelmed by her own sinfulness, expresses her love and gratitude through a humble act of service—washing Jesus’ feet with her tears and anointing them with ointment. Jesus uses this moment to teach about the depth of God’s forgiveness and the connection between love and mercy. The woman’s sins are forgiven not because of her actions, but because her actions flowed from a heart full of love and repentance.
These readings remind us that our faith is not about outward appearances or following rules, but about living with humility, love, and openness to God’s grace. Like Timothy, we are called to be examples of faith in our own unique ways, using the gifts we’ve been given to serve others. Like the sinful woman, we are invited to approach God with sincerity and love, acknowledging our need for forgiveness and allowing His mercy to transform us. In our daily lives, let us strive to live with such humility and love, remembering that it is through these virtues that we grow closer to God and become instruments of His grace for others.