HOMILY, THURSDAY OF THE TWENTY- FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR ( A)
R1:- 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
PS:- 118:1-2.15c-17.28 (R.1a)
Accl:- Matthew 11:28
Gosp:- Luke 7:36-50
Those who have no personal encounter with Jesus cannot understand the essence of devotion to him.
Those who do not recognize the grace of God at work in their lives hardly develop the need for appreciation.
It was the grace of God upon Paul that enabled him to work more than the other apostles, though he was not worthy of the name apostle. He was a persecutor of the church, but when the Lord caught up with him, his story changed and his dedication was unquantifiable.
Those who glory in sin and do not work to overcome their weaknesses and vices cannot never understand or appreciate the mercy of God. A taste of God’s power to save is a root of testimony.
The seeming wastefulness of the woman in our today’s gospel is a typical example of one who knows how transformative it is to encounter Jesus.
Having encountered Jesus, her life changed and her sins were forgiven. “She brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, wiped wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.”
Moreover, the woman did not even come before him, but she stood behind him. She did not come on equal terms with him. She was aware of her sins and her need for redemption. She never counted the cost. All she wanted was a new life. And she believed that Jesus has the key.
Likewise, let us sacrifice our pride and recognize our limitedness. Only Jesus can save. Those who want a new life cannot get it unless on their kneels. Let us pray for this special encounter.
May the Lord open our heart that we may realize our need for his transformative presence. May we humbly embrace him and drop our old ways.
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