September 16, 2021, Thursday
Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Saint Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs (Red)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 446
Reading I
1 Tm 4:12-16
Let no one have contempt for your youth,
but set an example for those who believe,
in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.
Until I arrive, attend to the reading, exhortation, and teaching.
Do not neglect the gift you have,
which was conferred on you through the prophetic word
with the imposition of hands by the presbyterate.
Be diligent in these matters, be absorbed in them,
so that your progress may be evident to everyone.
Attend to yourself and to your teaching;
persevere in both tasks,
for by doing so you will save
both yourself and those who listen to you.
Responsorial Psalm
111:7-8, 9, 10
R. (2) How great are the works of the Lord!
sure are all his precepts,
Reliable forever and ever,
wrought in truth and equity.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
he has ratified his covenant forever;
holy and awesome is his name.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
prudent are all who live by it.
His praise endures forever.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
Alleluia
Mt 11:28
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Lk 7:36-50
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.”
REFLECTION:
This is a story of extravagance and generosity. The ointment was expensive - and so was the alabaster jar. The woman whom nobody wanted near the table or the feast was extravagant in love. Somehow Jesus’ forgiving love had got through to her and she responded as best she knew – giving something really expensive - her way of giving all. Jesus saw beyond the sin and behind the oil to the love. That would conquer all in the end.
The jar of ointment was expensive, and highlights the generosity of the unnamed woman who was a sinner. Somehow the compassion and forgiveness of Jesus hit her so deeply that she poured out love for him as a response to her relationship with him. In prayer we can sometimes think of God's care, protection and forgiveness in our lives, and be grateful, with words or in silence.
PRAYER:
All sinners have a future – Lord, let me never despair of myself, since you do not do so. Forgiveness is for all, and the greater the need the more generous God’s response is.
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