Twenty Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Lk 7: 36-50
A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
JESUS CAME SO THAT OUR SINS MAY BE FORGIVEN: Everyone is welcome at the table of the Eucharist. We are all invited for Mass, and the way we enter is never the way we leave. Our lives change, we get new life. The degree to which we benefit depends on the degree to which we participate. As Jesus partakes of meals, he teaches us something about our Christian community. He came to change our way of thinking and of relating with others. We should never see a sinner coming for Mass, but rather, one that is repenting. Let us be guided by the example of St. Cornelius and Cyprian who help each other to strengthen the faith of Christians as they journey together in faith.
PRAYER: Lord, have mercy on us sinners.
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THE INFINITE LOVE OF GOD: Sometime back in Kenya, a certain woman’s husband met with a car accident and he was reduced to a vegetative state. She sat by his side for ten years. Several persons advised her to start her life elsewhere. But She kept her watch till the end. The sinful woman in today’s Gospel did not try to hide her sins, but she gathered courage and expressed her desire to lead a virtuous life. And we are told that her many sins are forgiven because she loved much. On the other hand, the Pharisee was quick to point his finger at the woman instead of recognizing his own sins. Are we pointing our finger at the others always without looking into ourselves? If we have faith in God and are ready to reform our life in accordance with the will of God, we need not be discouraged, but can be certain that we will be able to regain our lost friendship with God. The Eucharist which we celebrate everyday reminds His love for us. Let us be convinced of the saving truth that if we love much, much will be forgiven.
DAILY GOSPEL 