Most people would never even consider showing up at a meal unless they were invited. Yet, the woman in today’s Gospel passage does just that. It is important to note that she did so, not out of selfishness, but because she so anxiously wanted to be near Jesus and to show Him a service of hospitality and love. This uninvited guest showed Jesus the hospitality that His host should have shown Him, but he failed to do so. The woman honored Jesus in an overstated way in return for what she had already received from Him. She had felt God’s forgiving love through Jesus, and such was her gratitude for this gift that she wanted to offer love in return.
The woman should be an example to all who wish to be true followers of Jesus. Like her, all of us have received abundant gifts and, as John’s Gospel tells us, “from His fullness we have all received grace in place of grace.” [1] And like her, if we have a sense that we have been greatly gifted with grace, it will, hopefully, prompt us to do something great in return.
The woman in the house of the Pharisee shows us how to receive from the LORD and how to love Him in return, not only in our prayers of praise but also in the ways that we serve Him in our service to the least fortunate among us.
[1] John 1:16
Homily for Wednesday of the 4th Week of Easter
Homily for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Easter
Homily for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter
Homily for the 4th Sunday of Easter
Homily for Saturday of the 3rd Week of Easter
Homily for Friday of the 3rd Week of Easter
Homily for Thursday of the 3rd Week of Easter
Homily for Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Easter
Homily for Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Easter
Homily for Monday of the 3rd Week of Easter
Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Easter
Homily for Saturday of the 2nd Week of Easter
Homily for Friday of the 2nd Week of Easter
Homily for the Memorial of St. Stanislaus
Homily for Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Easter
Homily for Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Easter
Homily for the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday)
Homily for Saturday in the Octave of Easter
Homily for Friday in the Octave of Easter
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Cast The Word
Let Me Be Frank | Bishop Frank Caggiano’s Podcast | Diocese of Bridgeport, CT
The Bible Recap
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
The Briefing with Albert Mohler