Gospel: September 18, 2025
September 18, 2025 (Thursday)
24th Week in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 4 / (Green)
Ps 111:7-8, 9, 10
How great are the works of the Lord!
1st Reading: 1 Timothy 4:12-16
Gospel: Luke 7:36-50
One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to share his meal, so he went to the Pharisee’s home, and as usual reclined at the table to eat. And it happened that, a woman of this town, who was known as a sinner, heard that he was in the Pharisee’s house. She brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and stood behind him, at his feet, weeping. She wet his feet with tears; she dried them with her hair; she kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them. The Pharisee who had invited Jesus was watching, and thought, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what sort of person is touching him; isn’t this woman a sinner?” Then Jesus spoke to the Pharisee and said, “Simon, I have something to ask you.” He answered, “Speak, master.” And Jesus said, “Two people were in debt to the same creditor. One owed him 500 silver coins, and the other 50. As they were unable to pay him back, he graciously canceled the debts of both. Now, which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, who was forgiven more.” And Jesus said, “You are right.” And turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? You gave me no water for my feet when I entered your house; but she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You didn’t welcome me with a kiss; but she has not stopped kissing my feet since she came in. You provided no oil for my head; but she has poured perfume on my feet. This is why, I tell you, her sins, her many sins, are forgiven, because of her great love. But the one who is forgiven little, has little love.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” The others reclining with him at the table began to wonder, “Now this man claims to forgive sins!” But Jesus again spoke to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace!”
Reflection:
“Do we welcome the Lord?”
Simon the Pharisee is unsure about Jesus. He wants to know if he really is a prophet, so he invites him to his home for a meal. Simon certainly hasn’t shunned Jesus, but he hasn’t welcomed him as an honored guest either, since he has neither greeted him with a kiss nor provided water to wash his feet. The Pharisees kept away from anything ritually unclean. This included people (Lev 5:2-3). And so, Simon is shocked to see Jesus let a notorious sinner touch him, making him unclean. Surely this is proof that he’s not a prophet, he thinks, because he would know the state of the woman’s soul if he were, and he would immediately stop her from touching him. But he does know the state of her soul. He knows her sorrow and her contrition. He knows her repentance and her thanksgiving for the forgiveness she now feels in her heart. She is not unclean. Her sin is forgiven, and her lavish act of anointing is a sacrifice of thanksgiving (Ps 116:17) offered to the Lord who sits before her in Simon’s house. Do we welcome the Lord? Let’s welcome him eagerly and thank him for his mercies.
