Daily Readings - Tue Oct 13 2020
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 relationship between external practices and the state of our hearts. In the first reading from Galatians, St. Paul emphasizes the freedom we have in Christ. He warns against the temptation to rely on external observances, such as circumcision, as a means of earning salvation. Paul makes it clear that our justification comes not from the law but from faith in Christ, which must be lived out in love. He cautions that if we turn back to the law, we risk losing the grace of Christ and the hope of true freedom.
In the Gospel, Luke presents a similar theme through the encounter between Jesus and the Pharisee. The Pharisee is concerned with outward purity, criticizing Jesus for not washing before eating. Jesus responds by pointing out the hypocrisy of focusing on external cleanliness while neglecting the inner purity of the heart. He calls them "fools" because they fail to see that true cleanliness comes from within. Jesus then offers a practical solution: "Give alms, and behold, all things are clean for you." This teaches us that our actions—especially acts of charity—reflect the state of our hearts and are essential for living a life pleasing to God.
These readings remind us that our faith must not stop at external rituals or practices. While such customs can have value, they are meaningless if they do not flow from a heart transformed by Christ. St. Paul urges us to stand firm in the freedom of the Gospel, trusting in God’s grace rather than our own efforts. Jesus, in turn, calls us to examine our priorities and to ensure that our outward actions reflect an inner commitment to love and justice. Let us ask ourselves: Are we focused on the external appearances of faith, or are we allowing Christ to transform our hearts? True freedom and purity come from living out our faith in love and charity, trusting in God’s grace to guide us.