HOMILY FOR 24TH THURSDAY ORDINARY TIME — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: LOVE WITHOUT CONDEMNATION
BY: Fr. Paul Karabari
‘Do you see this woman?’
Luke, in the Gospel of today (7:36-50), presents the case of a woman who was regarded as a public sinner. The scene took place in the house of Simon, a religious leader who was more concerned about ‘right and wrong’ than he was about hurting people. He may have been theologically correct, but he lacked compassion. And Jesus confronted him about it! ‘He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman?”’ Simon saw her as a sinner and a loser. But not Jesus. He responded to the gift she brought and to the heart of love behind it. In determining her future potential to God’s Kingdom, He didn’t consult her sordid past or even refer to it. He saw her tears, understood her need, and shocked the religious crowd that day by saying, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’
ALSO RECOMMENDED: HOMILY FOR 24TH THURSDAY ORDINARY TIME
Be careful: when you have been in church for a while and forgotten what it is like to be on the outside, you can become hard-hearted and fail to show the love of God to those who need it. If you are so much interested in what is wrong and right with people, you may not have time to show love.
Again, this woman gave her most precious possession to Jesus. Not only was it extremely valuable, but breaking it open was her way of breaking with her past. She was giving up her former life by giving that jar to Jesus. Our problem is that we want God to do something new for us while we keep doing the same old thing. We want Him to change our circumstances without having to change us at all. But if we are asking God for new wine, we will need a new wineskin. Change is a two-sided coin that reads: Out with the old, and in with the new! Most of us get stuck spiritually because we keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. What got you to where you are, may not get you to where God wants you to go next.
Our love for God is the only seed that takes away judgment. She showed so much love while regretting in tears how she had lived. A true confession comes in sorrow that is generated in our heart and not just from the mouth. We bless God that He doesn’t see us the way others see us. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. May God have mercy on us, heal our world, bless and protect us all through Christ, our Lord Amen.
FOR A SIMILAR HOMILY, CLICK HERE >>>>>