24TH THURSDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Luke 7:36-50) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
FIRST READING - Hag 1:1-8
"Go up into the hill country; bring timber, and build the house that I may be pleased with it, and that I may be glorified."
A reading from the Book of Haggai
1 On the first day of the sixth month in the second year[a] of Darius the king, the word of the Lord came through Haggai the prophet to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and to the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak: 2 Thus says the Lord of hosts: This people has said: “Now is not the time to rebuild the house of the Lord.”
3 Then the word of the Lord came through Haggai the prophet: 4 Is it time for you to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies in ruins?[b]
5 Now thus says the Lord of hosts: Reflect on your experience![c]6 You have sown much, but have brought in little; you have eaten, but have not been satisfied; You have drunk, but have not become intoxicated; you have clothed yourselves, but have not been warmed; And the hired worker labors for a bag full of holes.
7 Thus says the Lord of hosts:
Reflect on your experience!8 Go up into the hill country; bring timber, and build the house that I may be pleased with it, and that I may be glorified, [d] says the Lord.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Lk 7:36-50
"Her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love."
✠From the Gospel according to Luke
36 A Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.[a] 37 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, 38 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. 39 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.” 40 Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41 “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages[b] and the other owed fifty. 42 Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 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. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. 47 So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love.[c] But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” 48 He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
24TH THURSDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Luke 7:36-50)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
The Word of God today, God the Father calls His children throughout the whole world to know how to fear God the Father, for He is the Almighty, the One who gives life, and also because He has authority over the death of humanity. There is no spirit greater than God the Most High. He alone has the power to cast both soul and body into hell; and at the same time, He has the authority to grant both soul and body entry into the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven, into eternal life. No one has the power to forgive sins, nor can anyone see how man offends and displeases God the Father, except God the Father alone.
Therefore, only God the Father—the One who created mankind—has the authority to judge and holds absolute power over mankind. Apart from Him, no creature has authority over the soul and body of any human being.
The Word of God today gives a warning to all people throughout the entire world: no one has any right or power over the soul and body of another. Why is this so? Because only God the Father is the Creator of mankind, and thus only He has the authority to judge and to grant reward.
The Word of God today also teaches the children of mankind: no matter how gravely a human may sin and offend God the Father, if he has a repentant heart, truly confesses and turns back to Him, reconciles with Him, fears Him, loves Him with all his heart, and loves his neighbor as himself, then God the Father will be ready to forgive all sins!
Those who continue to be arrogant and self-satisfied before God the Father, believing that they know all the sins of our brothers and sisters; those who are still proud, judging others, condemning, reproaching, and harboring hatred will be justly punished by God the Father. He will punish even more severely those who, though knowing their sins, refuse to sincerely repent before God the Father, who do not fear Him, and who fail to live meekly, humbly, lovingly, forgivingly, and accepting the weaknesses of our brothers and sisters.
In particular, God the Father calls His children, as we walk in His plan in this new era under the action of the Holy Spirit, not to condemn, not to reproach our brothers and sisters, not to exclude, but rather to love and forgive, to accept the sins and weaknesses of others so that together we may listen to and practice the Word of God. Do not reproach, do not condemn, nor judge as the Pharisees did in today’s account. For the actions of the Pharisees in condemning and reproaching that woman were displeasing to God the Father. He has made it known: only God has the authority to condemn, to judge, and to forgive sins. The duty of man is to recognize his own sins so as to live meekly, humbly, and lowly before God the Father, to fear Him, for He alone is the Most Sovereign One.
As for the faults of our brothers and sisters, it is God the Father who will correct and transform them. Our duty is to love and love again, to forgive and forgive unconditionally, and to support our fellow men, so that they may have the opportunity to draw near to the light of God, to be freed from sin, and delivered from the captivity of Satan.
The Word of God today earnestly calls mankind to create opportunities for our brothers and sisters to come closer to God. Do not close the door of our hearts, do not condemn, do not judge, but recognize our own status as a sinner before God the Father, so that we may love and forgive. In doing so, we ourselves will also be loved and forgiven by God. Acknowledge our sins before God the Father and before our fellow men, for this is what pleases Him.
Love God above all things and love our neighbors as ourselves. This is the commandment that God the Father established from the time He created mankind, and it is also the most important of all the laws given to mankind.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Comments