Homily for Thursday, Week 24 of Ordinary Time

Homily for Thursday
24th Week of Ordinary Time

Sept. 19, 2024
1 Cor 15: 1-11
Luke 7: 1-10
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

“I handed on to you as of 1st importance what I also received:  that Christ died for our sins; that he was buried; that he was raised on the 3d day” (1 Cor 1: 3-4).

Paul reminds his disciples in Corinth—sometimes so contentious, sometimes backsliding—of the fundamental truth of the Gospel:  the Gospel he received directly from the Risen Lord, the Gospel confirmed by the 12 and hundreds of other disciples, the Gospel that he’s always preached.  This Good News is that Christ died and was buried—no doubt about his having died—and that God raised him back to life.  His death and resurrection have effected the forgiveness of sins.

The forgiveness of sins, the gift of God’s free and full pardon, was at the heart of Jesus’ ministry—forgiveness even for very public sinners, for whom Luke has a special feeling, like the sinful women in today’s gospel, like Zaccheus the tax collector, like the criminal crucified alongside Jesus.

Whenever anyone responds to Jesus with faith, salvation follows:  “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Luke 7:10)—in peace with God, in peace with your own soul.  This is Paul’s Gospel; rather, it’s Jesus’ Gospel—still alive, still bestowing grace and salvation to sinners like us.