Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection October 15, 2024

15th October 2024 (Tuesday)

Psalter: Week 4

Readings of the Day

First Reading: Galatians 5:1-6

Brethren: For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Psalm 119:41, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48 (R. 41a)

R/. Lord, let your mercy come upon me

Gospel Acclamation

V/. Alleluia

R/. Alleluia

V/. The word of God is living and active, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

R/. Alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 11:37-41

At that time: While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.

Daily Gospel Reflection

Tuesday – Twenty-Eighth Week of Ordinary Time

Guidelines: True freedom should make a person clear-sighted. He would be able to see things in their due importance

1. In life, there are many concerns. But all of them are not equally important. There is a gradation of priorities. Often, this clarity of priorities is so much missing in modern society. Consequently, there is a distortion of priorities: the primary become the secondary, and the secondary become the primary; the essential are dominated by the inessential.

2. This happened also in the early Christian communities. They were giving more importance to Jewish laws and traditions. They forget the fact that all the laws are meant to foster the freedom of the Spirit and freedom of faith. Besides, the law of Christ, the law of love, and faith in Christ surpasses every law.

3. Accordingly, it is not the physical circumcision that is binding but the circumcision of the heart. It is not a negative binding but a positive bonding with the Lord. It is a sign of spiritual adherence and belonging to the Lord. That is why Paul affirms, “For, in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for nothing, but only faith working through love.”

4. Another instance of such distortion is being so scrupulous about the external washing of hands and cleaning of the cup and the dish. It was exaggerated importance to external purification and purity. But what about the interior purity? What about the contamination of the heart by sin? Should not exterior purity symbolise and lead to interior purity?

5. St Teresa of Avila whom we commemorate today iconises this divine purity, courage and commitment. Amidst tempestuous trials, she stood firm to reform her Carmelite order. This strength she derived from her intimate mystical experiences of the Lord.

Practice: All the laws and traditions may prescribe certain external activities and practices. The intention is to make the person authentic and holistic. They should deepen the interior spirit