Daily Readings - Tue Oct 16 2018
Galatians
1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.2Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.3Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.4You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.5But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Luke
37When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table.38But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised.39Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.40You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?41But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be 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.