Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 19, 2024
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 15.1-11
1Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,5and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.9For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve 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 to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.11Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
Psalm 118
1Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.2Let Israel say: "His love endures forever."3Let the house of Aaron say: "His love endures forever."4Let those who fear the LORD say: "His love endures forever."5In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free.6The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?7The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.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 the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.11They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.12They swarmed around me like bees, but they died out as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off.13I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me.14The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.15Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!16The LORD's right hand is lifted high; the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"17I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.18The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death.19Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.20This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter.21I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.22The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;23the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.24This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.25O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success.26Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.27The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.28You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you.29Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Gospel: Luke 7.36-50
36Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.37When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume,38and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner."40Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you.Tell me, teacher," he said.41"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.You have judged correctly," Jesus said.44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."49The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"50Jesus 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.