Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: September 18, 2025

Date: Thursday of the 24^th Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text:  Luke 7:36-50

A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, 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."

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel text for today presents us with two responses to Jesus’ presence: that of a Pharisee whose welcome of Jesus is minimal and that of a sinful woman who seeks out Jesus and washes His feet with her tears. Jesus’ conversation with both reveal the LORD’s treatment of the “self-righteous” as opposed to the truly penitent sinner seeking mercy.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I seek mercy self-righteously or humbly? Do I acknowledge my own sinfulness or seek to distract by pointing to the sins of others?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, Beloved Son Jesus Christ, and Most Holy Spirit, we come to You, acknowledging our own sinfulness and humbly seeking your mercy. As we hold in our minds the truth of your great love for most powerfully displayed upon the cross of Calvary, we lift our hearts to You. Grant that our hearts and minds may be transformed by your perfect love. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.