September 18, 2025 // Thursday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Luke 7:36-50
Reflect on the Word //
I’m always amazed when I’m reminded that Jesus receives us as we are and accepts all that we are willing to offer Him as it is—the good, the bad, even the darkness of our shame. There is nothing too little or too much for us to hand over to His Heart.
I think of this truth in light of today’s Gospel. Jesus does not seek the woman who comes to Him, but He receives her. He’s in the middle of a meal and, as she weeps at His feet, He doesn’t push her away. He turns His attention to her. I imagine He looks intently at her, past the outward demonstration of her love. He sees her in a way that likely she’s never been seen before, a way she may not even be aware of as she pours out her love through her tears, her hair as a towel, and costly ointment.
Jesus doesn’t stop her. He doesn’t stop her because of the “show” that others all too willingly comment on. He doesn’t stop her saying that her outpouring of love, repentance, homage, and her sacrifice of costly gifts is too much. He simply sees her and receives her. He receives all that she gives.
How often do we calculate what we are willing to offer the Lord? We want it to be in the best, most perfect way. We try to package our offering in a way we think He will receive it most readily. We scour the recesses of our hearts and pick out the best things to bring to Him, leaving the things and places we are afraid or ashamed of.
The reality is, He wants our hearts. He wants every bit, every corner of shame, every nook, cranny, and dark place where we hide our sin—and He wants those more than our merits, prayers, and sacrifices.
He wants us to follow the example of this woman who loves, and pour out our hearts to the Lord through our prayer, our charity, our repentance. Give all to Him, hold nothing back. He will receive it, and will never push you away.
Relate to the Lord // What will you offer to Jesus today? Ask Him what He wants from you.
Sister Maria Fatima grew up in Rhode Island and entered the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in 2005. She holds a MA in Theology from the Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity. Sister is in her eleventh year of enlightening middle school minds and drawing hearts to Jesus while teaching religion and history. She currently resides at the motherhouse in Ann Arbor, MI, having previously taught in Texas, Florida, and Ohio. She is a contributing author to our Lent devotional All She Had.
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