Daily Readings - Wed Oct 14 2020
Galatians
18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Luke
42"Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.43"Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.44"Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without knowing it."45One of the experts in the law answered him, "Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also."46Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the nature of authentic Christian living. The first reading from Galatians contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruits of the Spirit, reminding us that true freedom comes not from following the law, but from being led by the Holy Spirit. The flesh, with its selfish desires, leads to division and chaos, while the Spirit cultivates love, peace, and patience. This passage, written by St. Paul to a church struggling with legalism, emphasizes that those who belong to Christ have crucified their flesh, choosing instead to live by the Spirit.
The Gospel from Luke presents a complementary message, as Jesus critiques the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. While they meticulously observe outward practices like tithing, they neglect the weightier matters of justice and love. Jesus’ words are a stark reminder that our faith must not be reduced to external rituals but must transform our hearts and actions. This passage, part of Jesus’ broader critique of religious hypocrisy, challenges us to examine whether our faith is merely superficial or deeply rooted in love and compassion.
Together, these readings call us to a life of authenticity and integrity. The Spirit desires to produce fruit in us that reflects God’s love and peace, but this requires us to let go of self-centeredness and hypocrisy. In our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Are we more concerned with appearances, or are we allowing the Spirit to transform us from within? True Christian living is not about checking boxes or seeking recognition, but about living in such a way that the love of Christ shines through us. Let us strive to be people of substance, not just appearance, and to bear the fruit of the Spirit in all we do.