28th Week in the Ordinary Time - Wednesday (Year II)
12th September 2022 (Wednesday)
Dear Brothers and Sisters, we are on the Wednesday of 28th week in the ordinary time. Today's readings and reflction is based on the theme "Bear the fruits"
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For more certainty the Readings are posted from the Catholic Lectionary {alertInfo}
Reading 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)
Response: Whoever follows you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Blessed indeed is the man
who follows not the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the path with sinners,
nor abides in the company of scorners,
but whose delight is the law of the Lord,
and who ponders his law day and night.Response
He is like a tree that is planted
beside the flowing waters,
that yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves shall never fade;
and all that he does shall prosper.Response
Not so are the wicked, not so!
For they, like winnowed chaff,
shall be driven away by the wind.
For the Lord knows the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked will perish.Response
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.
Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertSuccess}
Main Theme: Bear the fruits!
Indicative: Those who truly belong to God will be authentic and bear the fruits of the Spirit {alertWarning}
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. 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.
2. 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. 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.
3. They taught people to be humble and not self-seeking. 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.
4. All this shows that they were not led by the Spirit but by the flesh. 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.
5. 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.
Imperative: 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{alertWarning}
Video Reflection
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