Daily Readings - Tue Oct 16 2018
Galatians
1Stand firm, and do not be willing to be again held by the yoke of servitude2Behold, I, Paul, say to you, that if you have been circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you3For I again testify, about every man circumcising himself, that he is obligated to act according to the entire law4You are being emptied of Christ, you who are being justified by the law. You have fallen from grace5For in spirit, by faith, we await the hope of justice6For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision prevails over anything, but only faith which works through charity
Luke
37And as he was speaking, a certain Pharisee asked him to eat with him. And going inside, he sat down to eat38But the Pharisee began to say, thinking within himself: "Why might it be that he has not washed before eating?39And the Lord said to him: "You Pharisees today clean what is outside the cup and the plate, but what is inside of you is full of plunder and iniquity40Fools! Did not he who made what is outside, indeed also make what is inside41Yet truly, give what is above as alms, and behold, all things are clean for you
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of true freedom and purity in our relationship with God. In the first reading from Galatians, Paul reminds us that our freedom in Christ is not about external practices or rituals, but about living in the Spirit. He warns against the temptation to rely on outward signs, like circumcision, as a means of earning salvation, emphasizing instead that faith working through love is what truly matters. This message was crucial for the early Christian community, which was grappling with the relationship between Jewish law and the new covenant in Christ.
In the Gospel, Luke presents a similar theme through Jesus' encounter with the Pharisee. Jesus critiques the Pharisee's focus on external purity—washing cups and plates—while neglecting the inner purity of the heart. He calls them hypocrites because they prioritize appearances over the reality of justice and compassion. Jesus' words challenge us to examine our own lives: are we more concerned with how we appear to others, or are we cultivating the inner virtues of love, mercy, and humility?
Both readings remind us that true spirituality is not about outward observances but about the condition of our hearts. Paul urges us to stand firm in the freedom of Christ, trusting in His grace rather than our own efforts to earn salvation. Jesus, in turn, calls us to a life of authenticity, where our actions flow from a heart transformed by love. Let us ask ourselves: Am I focused on external appearances, or am I allowing the Spirit to transform me from within? May we live in such a way that our faith is not empty ritual but a vibrant expression of God's love at work in our lives.