Daily Catholic Lectio
Thu, 19 Sep 2024
XXIV Week in Ordinary Time, Thursday
1 Corinthians 15:1-11. Luke 7:36-50
Functions of faith
‘Faith’ is not merely an inner disposition of surrender and trust towards God; faith calls us to action, for faith has its functions in one’s life. The readings of the day bring before us three functions of faith.
1. Faith that enlarges our vision
Saint Paul, writing to the Corinthians, makes a confession at the end of his letter, and reveals how he obtained faith from the Lord. Paul’s faith was a response to the revelation that he had from God. The revealing God demands obedience of faith. Paul’s faith led to his proclamation of the Gospel, which in turn, attracted many people to believe in the person of Jesus. When the Lord appeared to Paul (Saul), he enlarges his vision. He, who held the sword against the Lord and the Lord’s people, begins to hold the sword for the Lord. Paul’s faith enlarges his vision. In the gospel reading, we have a sinful woman ‘trespassing’ the hospitality of a Pharisee. When Simon, the Pharisee, hosted the Lord in his house, he saw in Jesus a wandering preacher. But, the woman saw in Jesus her Lord. Her faith expanded or enlarged her vision.
2. Faith that shows courage
Paul did not keep the faith in the Lord for himself; nor did the apostles did. They begin to give it to others. Faith is like a candle. It begins to light more candles despite the winds that try to put them off. The woman in the gospel reading showed great courage to ‘gate-crash’ for the Lord. The woman’s gaze was on the Lord alone. She was not at all afraid of the socio-cultural stereotypes of the time. She knew that the opportunity to meet the Lord was on only once. She took advantage of that situation fully.
3. Faith that is hospitable
Simon the Pharisee invites Jesus to his home but fails to offer Him the customary hospitality of washing His feet or greeting Him with a kiss. In contrast, the sinful woman’s actions embody a faith that is hospitable. She welcomes Jesus with an open heart, showing Him love, honour, and respect despite the setting. Her faith leads her to create a space of welcome and warmth, even in a place where she was not welcomed herself. Jesus makes a comparison of what Simon did and what the woman did. The bottom-line was ‘the woman loved Jesus more.’ She was forgiven more, and she was led to love more.
In the end, Jesus says to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you.’ The saving faith already manifested itself in actions.
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The ‘pilgrims of hope’ show their faith in concrete actions (Jubilee 2025 AD, bite 203).
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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