Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Luke 7: 36-50
September 18, 2025 | Thursday

Today’s Gospel

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 five hundred silver coins, and the other fifty. 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.”

Today’s Reflection

Let no one reproach you on account of your youth, St. Paul exhorts Timothy. We can extend this to us all. Let no one reproach us because of our status, situations in life, family backgrounds, or even our sins. In the Gospel, it was not the disciples who poured perfume on Jesus’ feet but a known sinner. Despite her sinfulness and the reputation she has in the community, she did not distance herself from Jesus but rather gave homage to her Lord and Savior. And with that, her sins are forgiven. To some of us, in fact, many of us, we distance ourselves from God in the Eucharist because we project our sins more than the grace of God. Or, at times, we allow the burdens of life to bar us from coming to Jesus in the Eucharist or serving the Lord by whatever means we can. We focus on the hurdle, not on the mission. In one of his homilies, Bishop Antonieto Cabajog of Surigao reflects that when we think our problems are as big as the biggest ships, we must remember that God’s love is the ocean. It remains infinitely greater than anything else. May we remain steadfast in following the Lord, letting nothing reproach us from serving Him.

/Vulnerasti, 2025