Daily Readings - Tue Oct 11 2022
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 Galatians, Paul warns against returning to the slavery of legalism, emphasizing that our justification comes through faith in Christ, not through outward practices like circumcision. He urges believers to stand firm in the liberty found in Christ, as attempting to justify oneself through the law leads to a fall from grace. This message underscores the sufficiency of faith working through love, rather than external rituals.
In the Gospel, Luke presents Jesus challenging the Pharisees' focus on external cleanliness. When a Pharisee questions Jesus for not washing before eating, Jesus responds by pointing out the hypocrisy of cleaning the outside while neglecting the inner purity of the heart. He calls them fools for missing the point that true cleanliness comes from within. Jesus teaches that giving alms and focusing on inner transformation is what truly makes one clean before God.
Together, these readings highlight the contrast between outward appearances and inward reality. Galatians emphasizes spiritual freedom through faith, while Luke stresses the importance of inner purity. Both remind us that true righteousness is not about external compliance but about living from a transformed heart. In our daily lives, this means prioritizing love and faith over mere rituals, ensuring our actions reflect inner spiritual growth. Let us strive to live in the freedom of Christ, with hearts cleansed by love and grace.