Daily Readings - Wed Oct 16 2024
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
In today's readings, we are presented with a profound contrast between living a life guided by the Holy Spirit and one dominated by worldly desires and hypocrisy. The first reading from Galatians highlights the struggle between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. Paul reminds us that when we allow the Spirit to lead us, we are no longer bound by the law, but instead, we cultivate virtues such as charity, joy, and peace. These fruits are not just abstract concepts but tangible expressions of a life transformed by grace.
The Gospel from Luke offers a complementary message as Jesus critiques the Pharisees for their outward piety, which masks their inner neglect of justice and love. The Pharisees meticulously observe rituals like tithing, yet they fail to embody the essence of God’s commandments—love and compassion. Jesus’ words serve as a warning against hypocrisy, urging us to examine our own hearts and actions. Like the Pharisees, we often focus on what others see, forgetting that true faith is about living authentically from the inside out.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives. Are we more concerned with appearances, or are we genuinely striving to live according to the Spirit? Let us ask ourselves: Do our actions reflect love, patience, and kindness, or are we caught up in self-interest and superficiality? The moral lesson is clear: True faith is not about external rituals or seeking praise, but about cultivating a heart that overflows with the fruit of the Spirit. Let us pray for the grace to live authentically, guided by the Spirit, and to embody the love and humility that Jesus calls us to.