Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection September 19, 2024
Twenty-Fourth Week of Ordinary Time
19th September 2024 (Thursday)
Psalter: Week 4
Reading of the Day
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards 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. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Psalm 118:1-2, 15c-17, 28 (R. 1a)
R/. Give praise to the Lord, for he is good
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 7:36-50
At that time: One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. And 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, and 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. Now 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.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” “A certain money-lender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning towards 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. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Thursday – Twenty-Fourth Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: God does not keep a rigid account of our faults but wipes away all of them, provided that we deepen our love for Him and fall at His feet. For Love is the seedbed for the forgiveness of God and the renewal of human life
1. What a contrast between the self-righteous Pharisee and the sinner-woman! The host Pharisee’s approach was a formal hospitality but the invader woman’s was a profound love for Jesus.
2. Her love was abundant and extravagant, in sitting at Jesus’ feet, kissing them, washing them with her tears, wiping them with her hair and embalming them with costly perfume. All these are certainly eccentric gestures but very personal gestures, flowing from a profound love for Jesus.
3. There were no self-interests or any other ulterior motives like making good impressions or gaining recognition and applause. This sinner woman teaches us today a great practical lesson: Love God passionately and it will take care of the rest.
4. It is because love makes us humble to see and accept our unworthiness, drives us to surrender totally to God’s mercy. Further, it ignites within us a burning ardour to rise up from our imperfections.
5. It is true that our frailties and imperfections are abundant. But the grace and the mercy of God is superabundant. Once we are open to it, then the change will be radical. What we are till we encounter grace and are touched by it, may be different. But once encountered, love and passion for the Lord should be the only overriding force.
6. This is what we see today in both the readings, in the persons of Paul and the sinner woman. They allowed themselves to be completely overwhelmed by the mercy of God. They responded to God’s grace with a “crazy” love.
7. How rightly St Francis de Sales affirmed: “Love makes the lovers alike”. If we truly love God, we cannot but avoid what is contrary to Him and grow in His likeness.
Practice: Love is the greatest remedy and antidote for the wounds inflicted by sin. Love is the reason both for God to forgive us and also for us to receive the grace of being forgiven
