Daily Readings - Wed Oct 17 2018
Galatians
18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.19Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,21envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.25If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Luke
42"But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.43Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.44Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it."45One of the lawyers answered him, "Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also."46And he said, "Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of true spirituality and the dangers of hypocrisy. In the first reading from Galatians, St. Paul contrasts the "works of the flesh" with the "fruits of the Spirit." He warns that living by our selfish desires—such as jealousy, envy, and hostility—can separate us from God. On the other hand, when we allow the Spirit to guide us, we bear fruits like charity, joy, peace, and patience. This passage reminds us that our actions and attitudes reveal whether we are living in harmony with God’s will.
In the Gospel, Jesus addresses the Pharisees, criticizing their obsession with outward appearances of piety while neglecting the deeper demands of justice and love. He condemns their love for prestige and their failure to recognize the weight of their own hypocrisy. Jesus’ words are a stark reminder that true faith cannot be reduced to rituals or external displays; it must transform our hearts and actions. The Pharisees’ error was focusing on what others saw rather than cultivating an authentic relationship with God.
These readings challenge us to examine our own lives. Are we living by the Spirit, allowing God’s grace to shape our thoughts and actions, or are we caught up in superficial religiosity? Do we prioritize love, kindness, and humility, or do we seek recognition and status? Jesus and St. Paul call us to a deeper, more authentic faith—one that is not about appearances but about living in accordance with God’s will. Let us strive to bear the fruits of the Spirit and avoid the pitfalls of hypocrisy, remembering that true holiness is about the heart, not just the outward show.