Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection October 16, 2024
Twenty-Eighth Week of Ordinary Time
16th October 2024 (Wednesday)
Psalter: Week 4
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Galatians 5:18-25
Brethren: If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, 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. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6 (R. see John 8:12)
R/. Whoever follows you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; and I know them, and they follow me.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 11:42-46
At that time: Jesus said, “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. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the market-places. Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.” One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” And 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.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Wednesday – Twenty-Eighth Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: Those who truly belong to God will be authentic and bear the fruits of the Spirit
1. Jesus condemns the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and scribes. It is not being judgmental and condemnatory toward others. It is not lacking in charity. It is a matter of calling for authenticity. It is a question of leading a life of integrity.
2. All the more, when we are in a role and position of teaching and guiding others and demanding from them a right life, we should check and see whether we ourselves are trying to do and live the same.
3. This was exactly the fault of the Pharisees and scribes. They demanded so much from others but they themselves did not follow what they demanded. They taught many things but they themselves did not practice.
4. They twisted the priorities. They gave more importance to religious traditions like tithes but neglected the most important precepts of justice and the love of God. They taught people to be humble and not self-seeking.
5. But they themselves were seeking places and powers of honour. They live hidden and disguised lives with an outer cover and garb of religiosity, like unmarked graves. All this shows that they were not led by the Spirit but by the flesh.
6. We have a clear contrast between the works of the flesh and fruits of the Spirit in the first reading. They are clearly led by the flesh because they do the works of the flesh. Vices like impurity, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, rivalries, dissensions, and divisions reign over them.
7. This is the reason why they could not feel at home in the presence of Jesus. They resented and resisted because he not only preached by word but also lived by example. So his life of authenticity was a great question mark to their hypocrisy. They felt poked and provoked, questioned and challenged by his life of integrity.
8. St Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647 – 1690) whom we venerate today was blessed with several visions of Christ’s love. She always lived in the realm of the Spirit. She is specially honoured for the intense promotion of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Practice: As long as we are in the realm of the flesh, we will do the works of the flesh. They will go contrary to the fruits of Spirit that will get us to inheritance
