Daily Readings - Tue Oct 11 2022
Galatians
1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.2Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.3For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.4Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.5For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Luke
37And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.38And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.39And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.40Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?41But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto 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.