Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection September 18, 2025
Thursday – 24th Week in Ordinary Time
18th September 2025 (Thursday)
Psalter: Week 4
Readings of the Day
First Reading: 1 Timothy 4:12-16
Beloved: Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Psalm 111:7-8, 9, 10 R.(2)
R/. Great are the works of the Lord.
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 him 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 moneylender 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 toward 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 – 24th Week in Ordinary Time
Main Point: Love covers a multitude of sins. When there is love, everything changes. In love, God forgives the multitude of our sins, and in the same love, we must repent and be forgiven and lead a forgiven life of newness given
1. In the gospel, there is another touching episode: Jesus is a royal guest at a Pharisee’s house, and a sinner woman anoints his feet. And then follows a corrective of Jesus about love and forgiveness.
2. What is striking is the exuberance of the passion of the sinner woman for Jesus. She is least bothered about the disdain from the people. Her only focus was Jesus, to touch him and to manifest her love for him. All her gestures revolve around his feet: she stands behind him at his feet, wets his feet with her tears, wipes them with her hair, kisses them, and anoints them with an alabaster ointment. Certainly, these are acts out of unbounded love and humility.
3. She stands in sharp contrast to the host Pharisee by her passionate love and humble surrender. He was formal, but she was personal. He was self-righteous, but she was self-conscious and humble. His was superficial respect, but hers was a profound reverence. He was bound within the barricades of law and legalism, but she was free and totally surrendered. He had a dry sense of social obligation, but she had a fertile spirit of personal submission. He was complacent, but she was repentant. He entertained negativity and resentment, but she had only love and passion.
4. The contrast is very striking even by their external positions: the Pharisee was sitting with Jesus at the table, but the woman sat at his feet. But love makes the difference. In love, she wins the heart of Jesus and finds a place there. In love, she obtains his forgiveness. She is not discouraged by her sinful past. She had faith in Jesus. She had love for him. She hoped for his forgiveness.
5. The admonition of Paul to Timothy in the first reading (1 Timothy 4. 12-16) comes true in her life: “Take heed to yourself and to your teaching; hold to that, for by doing so you will save both yourself and your hearers”. She held to the teaching and to the love of Jesus and thus could save herself. As Paul says again, “Do not neglect the gift you have”, she did not neglect the gift of forgiveness but changed her life.
My Practice: Faith is not so much about following certain rules and performing some religious duties. It is also not so much about never falling or failing. Faith is essentially love for Jesus, humility to repent and surrender, and loyalty to live a changed life.
