Daily Readings - Tue Oct 16 2018
Galatians
1For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.2Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.3I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.4You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.5For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
Luke
37While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table.38The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner.39And the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.40You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also?41But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is 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.