9/17/2026 (Thursday) Today’s Gospel reading: Luke 7:36-50

36 A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.
37 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,
38 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.
39 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.”
40 Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty.
42 Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.”
He said to him, “You have judged rightly.”
44 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.
45 You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.
46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment.
47 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.”
48 He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The others at the table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

9/17/2026 (Thursday) Today’s Gospel reflection / homily / sermon: Luke 7:36-50

Theme: When Love Goes Beyond the Expected

The story in this Gospel passage is a beautiful encounter between Jesus, a woman known for her sinful past, and a Pharisee who had invited Jesus into his home. What makes the story powerful is not simply what happened at the table, but what Jesus revealed about the human heart.

The Pharisee saw a woman with a reputation. Jesus saw a person capable of love.
The Pharisee saw her past. Jesus saw her possibility.
The Pharisee measured her according to what she had done. Jesus measured her according to the love she was now willing to give.

She entered carrying shame, but she left carrying peace. She came knowing how others judged her, but she discovered that God’s mercy was greater than human judgment.

Her actions were extraordinary. She wept at Jesus’ feet, wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured expensive perfume over them. She did not come with impressive words. She came with a repentant heart. Her gratitude became an expression of love.

This story challenges us to ask ourselves: Are we giving God MORE?

M — MERCY
God’s mercy is always more than our mistakes. Sometimes we allow our past to become a prison. We remember the things we regret, the people we have hurt, the opportunities we wasted, and the choices we wish we could undo.

But God does not look at us only through the lens of yesterday. Mercy means that our worst chapter does not have to become the title of our whole life. If God has forgiven us, we must also learn to stop punishing ourselves for what God has already placed behind us.

O — OPENNESS
The woman came to Jesus with an open heart. She did not pretend to be perfect. She did not hide her brokenness. She simply came as she was.

There is something powerful about being honest before God. We do not need to impress Him. We do not need to pretend that everything is fine. We can bring our fears, failures, disappointments, wounds, and weaknesses.

When we open our hearts to God, grace has room to enter.

R — RECOGNITION
The woman recognized something the Pharisee failed to recognize: she needed mercy, and Jesus could give it.

Sometimes we fail to appreciate grace because we think we deserve everything we have. But gratitude begins when we recognize that life itself is a gift.

Every morning we wake up is another opportunity. Every person who loves us is a blessing. Every second chance is evidence that God is still writing our story.

The more we recognize God’s goodness, the more grateful we become.

E — EXPRESSION
Real gratitude eventually becomes visible. The woman’s love was not merely something she felt inside. She expressed it through her actions.

Our faith should also become visible. We express love when we forgive someone who hurt us. We express gratitude when we help someone who needs us. We express compassion when we listen instead of judge. We express faith when we continue believing even during difficult seasons.

Love that remains only in our thoughts is incomplete. Love becomes powerful when it becomes action.

The story ultimately reminds us that God is not searching for perfect people. He is searching for hearts willing to return to Him, receive His mercy, and love MORE deeply.

More mercy. More openness. More recognition. More expression.

And perhaps that is the challenge for us today: Do MORE, not to earn God’s love, but because we have already received it.

When we understand how much we have been forgiven, gratitude becomes natural. When gratitude fills our hearts, love becomes generous. And when love becomes generous, our lives begin to change.

We may have a past we cannot change, but through God’s mercy, we can have a future we have not yet imagined.

Come to God with your brokenness. Leave with gratitude. Receive His mercy. And then go into the world ready to give MORE love than you received.

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