THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2024
THURSDAY OF THE TWENTY FOURTH WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME B
St Januarius, B.M. (Opt. Mem.)
I Corinthians 15:1-11
Luke 7:36-50
MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST AND OUR RESPONSE
What precise message does the gospel of Christ brings to our world? Many have taken the gospel to mean different things. For some, it is a thing of pride, a social and religious divider. The Pharisees see it as tool to judge and condemn others, while for many it is for man’s advantage of projecting himself and making profit. No wonder the prosperity Gospel preachers trive.
But for Jesus and Paul in the readings of today, the gospel has a deeper message. It is for release of captives, for forgiveness of sins, for conversion of sinners, for union with God and for salvation of souls of men.
Saint Paul in the first reading of today, was very vehement in claiming that what he received is what he is giving back. And the message he received is summed up thus: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” For Paul, the subject is Christ, who died for humanity, was raised also for humanity. The reason for Christ’s death is to offer salvation to man. To redeem man from sin and condemnation. And that is the core of the message that Paul passes and works for.
Jesus in the house of this Pharisee was also visited by this woman who felt sense of guilt and came to make atonement for her many sins. Jesus did not deny her this privilege of being reconciled with her God because that is his mission on earth, to reconcile man to God. So Jesus was pleased, and accepted the gestures of this woman. He even absolved the woman by telling her, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
But for those who did not understand the message of Christ to the world, they wondered, felt some awkward uncomfortable situation when they saw that woman, they became judgemental, they criticised Jesus, and even accused Jesus of not being sent from God.
What were the pharisees thinking? What did they take the message of Jesus to be? What is their idea of why Jesus came into the world?
We must also begin to evaluate the importance of our faith in Christ. Is it just to belong to somewhere for pride and other mundane reasons?
We are Christians first to be delivered from guilt, sin and to be admitted into the household of God. To become aware of our sinfulness, to repent of all, and to strive through the grace of Christ to live better, to reject our past evil lives and to be begin a new phase of life of holiness, which begins properly by baptism and continues with the dictum of love of God and love of neighbour as our watch word. And we must hear Jesus tell us, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Our earnest response before and after conversion, would then be a life of humility. We must be humble, we must seek Jesus, wash the feet of Jesus, and make atonement for our sins, and live life of service to God and humanity. We must be ready to be like this woman. And Jesus says that she has shown much love. So we must show much love.
Our saviour Jesus came for us, to save, to deliver us and to return us back to God our creator. We must heed his call, and be single minded in our resolves to follow him, to walk with him, to live in him and to love as he loved. And like Paul, we must be intent in proclaiming him to our world and working for the salvation of others and not for their condemnation.
Saviour of the World, Lord Jesus, Shepherd of our souls, we beseech you, watch over us, forgive our sins, release us from the guilt of our iniquity and restore your spirit in us. May we gain the graces to live out the message of salvation that you bring to our world. Give us humble mind and heart to proclaim same gospel of love to our world. Through Christ our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
