Daily Readings - Tue Oct 12 2021

¹⁶For I am not ashamed of the Gospel. For it is the power of God unto salvation for all believers, the Jew first, and the Greek¹⁷For the justice of God is revealed within it, by faith unto faith, just as it was written: "For the just one lives by faith.¹⁸For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven over every impiety and injustice among those men who fend off the truth of God with injustice¹⁹For what is known about God is manifest in them. For God has manifested it to them²⁰For unseen things about him have been made conspicuous, since the creation of the world, being understood by the things that were made; likewise his everlasting virtue and divinity, so much so that they have no excuse²¹For although they had known God, they did not glorify God, nor give thanks. Instead, they became weakened in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was obscured²²For, while proclaiming themselves to be wise, they became foolish²³And they exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of flying things, and of four-legged beasts, and of serpents²⁴For this reason, God handed them over to the desires of their own heart for impurity, so that they afflicted their own bodies with indignities among themselves²⁵And they exchanged the truth of God for a lie. And they worshipped and served the creature, rather than the Creator, who is blessed for all eternity. Amen

Luke

Chapter 11

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 outward appearances and inward realities. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul emphasizes the power of the Gospel to reveal God’s justice and salvation. He warns, however, that when people reject God’s truth, they fall into darkness, exchanging the glory of the Creator for false idols. This passage reminds us that turning away from God leads to spiritual corruption and a distorted understanding of the world. In the Gospel, Jesus confronts the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. While they focus on external purity, such as washing cups and plates, their hearts remain filled with greed and injustice. Jesus calls them fools for neglecting the inner transformation that true faith demands. These readings are connected by the theme of authenticity in our relationship with God. The Pharisees in the Gospel represent those who prioritize outward rituals over inward conversion, while St. Paul warns against the spiritual decay that results when we reject God’s truth. Together, they challenge us to examine our own lives. Are we more concerned with appearances, or are we allowing the Gospel to transform us from within? True faith is not about external observances but about living in accordance with God’s justice and love. In our daily lives, this means taking an honest look at our motivations and actions. Do we serve God with sincerity, or are we content with superficial practices? The moral lesson here is clear: our hearts must be purified and aligned with God’s will. Let us not be like the Pharisees, who missed the deeper truth of faith. Instead, let us allow the Gospel to penetrate our hearts, leading us to live with integrity and to serve others with love. In doing so, we will embody the justice and truth of God in a world that sorely needs it.