Daily Gospel Reflections for Sep 17, 2026

SPEAKER_1 (0:11)

I confess to Almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I've done and in what I failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore, I ask Blessed Mary Ever-Virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

September 17th, 2026, first day of the 24th week in Ordinary Time. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.

SPEAKER_2 (0:53)

One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisees' house and sat at the table. Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisees' house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. Standing behind, at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head. Kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is, who touches him, that she is a sinner.

Jesus answered him, Simon, I have something to tell you. He said, Teacher, say on. A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed 500 denarii and the other 50 When they couldn't pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most? Simon answered, He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most. He said to him, You have judged correctly. Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet. But she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet.

You didn't anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.

Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much.

But one to whom little is forgiven loves little. He said to her, Your sins are forgiven. Those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, Who is this who even forgives sins? He said to the woman, Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.

SPEAKER_1 (3:21)

The Gospel of the Lord. A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. 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, 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. The woman entered a house where she knew she might not be welcome. People knew her reputation. She knew what they thought of her too. Yet none of that stopped her from going to Jesus. She did not try to explain herself or defend her past. She simply came to him. Her tears, her kisses, and the ointment she poured on his feet expressed what words could not. She knew she needed mercy, and she believed Jesus would receive her. The Pharisee saw a sinful woman. Jesus saw someone who came to him with repentance and love.

We can sometimes hesitate to approach God because of something we have done. We may carry regret over choices we wish we could change, or feel ashamed that we keep returning to the same weakness.

We might even think we should put ourselves right first before coming back to God.

But this woman shows us another way. She came as she was.

Jesus already knows the parts of our lives we would rather hide. There is no need to pretend before him. What matters is whether we are willing to come back, place our failures before him, and receive the mercy he offers. Our past does not have to keep us at a distance from Christ. The woman crossed that distance and knelt at his feet. We can do the same. Is there something from our past that still makes us feel unworthy to approach Jesus? What would it mean for us to bring it to him instead of continuing to carry it alone? Lord Jesus, help us come to you without hiding our failures or pretending to be better than we are. Give us the courage to place our sins and regrets before you, trusting in your mercy and forgiveness. Help us leave behind what keeps us from you, and follow you with a sincere heart. Amen.