• Thursday, September 17 : First Letter to the Corinthians 15,1-11.
    I am reminding you, brothers and sisters, of the Gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand. Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I handed on 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; that he appeared to Kephas, then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. After that he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me. For I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective. Indeed, I have toiled harder than all of them; not I, however, but the grace of God (that is) with me. Therefore, whether it be I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
  • Thursday, September 17 : Psalms 118(117),1-2.16ab-17.28.
    Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” “The right hand of the LORD is exalted; the right hand of the LORD has struck with power.” I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. You are my God, and I give thanks to you; O my God, I extol you.
  • Thursday, September 17 : Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 7,36-50.
    A 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. 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.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 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. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. 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.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
  • Thursday, September 17 : Homily attributed to Saint Macarius of Egypt
    Let us welcome our God and Lord, the true doctor who, by coming to us, is alone able to heal our souls, he who strove so mightily on our behalf. He is constantly knocking on the door of our hearts for us to open to him and let him in so that he can recline in our souls, making his home with us, and we can wash his feet and pour perfume over them. Indeed, Jesus rebukes the one who failed to wash his feet and elsewhere he says: “Behold I stand at the door…; if anyone opens the door I will enter his house” (Rv 3,20). In fact, this is the reason why he bore such great suffering, delivering up his body to death and redeeming us from slavery: it was so that he might enter our souls and make his home there. This was why our Lord says to those who are to stand on his left side at the judgement and be cast into the eternal fire: “I was a stranger and you gave me no welcome; I was hungry and you gave me no food; thirsty, and you gave me no drink” (cf. Mt 25,42f.) Because his food and drink, his clothing, shelter and rest are all within our heart. This is why he is always knocking, trying to come in to our house. So let us welcome him and bring him inside, within us, since he is our food, drink and eternal life, too. And those souls who do not now receive him within, for him to find his rest in them, or rather that they might find rest in him, will not inherit the Kingdom of heaven with the saints or be able to enter the heavenly city. But you, O Lord Jesus Christ, grant us to enter there, we who glorify your name with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ages unending. Amen.