Homily for Thursday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time

Most people would never show up at a meal uninvited. Yet, the woman in today’s Gospel does precisely that. She did so not out of selfishness but deep humility and gratitude. She wanted to be near Jesus to show Him hospitality and love. This uninvited guest showed Jesus the hospitality His host should have shown Him but didn’t. She honored Jesus in return for what she received from Him: God’s forgiving love.

The woman is an example to all who wish to be true followers of Jesus. Like her, we have received generous gifts and a continuous flow of God’s favor and blessings. If we sense that we have been extraordinarily gifted with grace, it will hopefully prompt us, like the woman, to do something extraordinary in return. 

The woman displays how we should receive from the Lord and love Him in return, not only in our prayers of praise but also in how we serve Him not simply as a duty but as an expression of our love for God by helping those in need, just as Jesus did during His time on earth.