Reading 1
Gal 5:18-25
Brothers and sisters:
If you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are obvious:
immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry,
sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy,
outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness,
dissensions, factions, occasions of envy,
drinking bouts, orgies, and the like.
I warn you, as I warned you before,
that those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh
with its passions and desires.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.
Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
Responsorial PsalmR. (see Jn 8:12)
Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Gospel
Lk 11:42-46
The Lord said:
“Woe to you Pharisees!
You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb,
but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God.
These you should have done, without overlooking the others.
Woe to you Pharisees!
You love the seat of honor in synagogues
and greetings in marketplaces.
Woe to you!
You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.”
Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply,
“Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.”
And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law!
You impose on people burdens hard to carry,
but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.”
Meditation: Galatians 5:18-25
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)
Rivalries, anger, jealousy, envy, selfishness—many of these “works of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19) are things we can point to in our lives or in our families every day. As we see the many ways in which we stumble, should we conclude that we are without hope? Of course not! We belong to Christ. Our sinful passions were crucified in baptism, and we have been filled with the Holy Spirit (5:24).
So why don’t we live this way all the time? Because the call to holiness is a process—and the sinful aspects of our nature don’t disappear overnight. We can be glad that God doesn’t judge us by a snapshot of our worst moments! What about that outburst of anger? What about that envious thought that just reared its ugly head? God sees all that, but he also sees the bigger picture. He never loses sight of Jesus’ sacrifice for us, the life of his Spirit within us, the natural goodness he created in us, or our desires for godliness. He sees it all—and it makes him smile!
So don’t be disheartened when you stumble. Your failures certainly do not prove that God has abandoned you! The truth is, we will never see perfection in ourselves short of heaven. However, with each choice we make to put off the flesh and live by the Spirit, we make a little more progress toward Christ. That’s why God offers us forgiveness each time we fall. That’s why he generously offers us the power of his Spirit to help us get back on the path.
Before you go to bed tonight, take some time to review the day. Don’t just look at the temptations that you gave in to. Look also at the fruit of the Spirit that you demonstrated. Be encouraged at your victories, and ask the Spirit to strengthen you in those areas where you were weak. Whether it’s an issue of self-control, patience, or fortitude, look to Jesus and to his mighty power. Remember that he has brought you peace (Colossians 1:20). Claim that peace in his name, and get a good night’s rest!
“Lord, I rejoice in your life in me and in the working of your Holy Spirit to conform me to your image. May my heart be always open to your call.”
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