Daily Catholic Lectio
Wed, 16 Oct 2024
XXVIII Week in Ordinary Time, Wednesday
Galatians 5:18-25. Luke 11:42-46
True religion
In the gospel reading, Jesus is still in the Pharisee’s house, who had invited him for dinner. The teaching extends from ‘purity’ to ‘religion.’ The mealtime becomes the message time.
Jesus pronounces three ‘woes’, of which two are directed to the Pharisees and one to the Teachers of the Law.
Jesus points to them their three pillars of religion and says how they have been bent:
(a) Paying tithe or one tenth.
(b) Synagogue worship.
(c) Ordinances.
Paying tithe, though a religious duty, the reason behind its establishment was social justice and social welfare. In the long run, this took prime place, and justice and love were sidelined.
Synagogue worship became a place to show oneself off. Attention was not placed on God and God’s word but on human shows.
The ordinances, which were derived from the Decalogue instead of making it easy for people to come to God, created burdens for them.
Jesus makes the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law the meaning of true religion.
For Jesus, true religion consists in establishing justice, engaging in love, paying attention to God, and being compassionate.
How do we apply these for our lives?
(a) Doing what is easy vs. doing what is right.
In the practice of religion, we too are Pharisees at times. Coming for the Novena is easy, but forgiving an offending neighbour is right. We choose to come for the Novena rather than forgive an enemy. We choose what is easy.
(b) Seeking attention or validation.
When we seek attention or validation from outside, we lose our self-identity, self-esteem, and self-confidence. We are primarily self-validated and self-sufficient. Today, in the context of social media, seeking validation from outside is prevalent all the more. After making a post on Facebook or Instagram, we constantly check to see how many likes and shares the post has received. This is primarily a Pharisaic way of seeking the first ‘posts’ (pun intended).
(c) Being legalistic.
They say, ‘Morality is what we speak of for those whom we don’t like.’ Legalism is what we enforce for others. In other words, ‘we become judges for others’ faults, and we become advocates for our faults.’ The commandments of God are ten, and Jesus summed them into two. Why adding more and more ordinances, norms, regulations, and sanctions? Who are we to sanction our own fellow human persons? If they are a burden to us, why must we make others carry them?
In the first reading, Paul makes a contrast between works of the flesh and the fruits of the spirit. He categorically asserts that against the fruit of the spirit there is no Law. When we fill our lives with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, the ‘self’ in us and the ‘law’ in us die.
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The ‘pilgrims of hope’ fill their lives with the fruit of the Spirit. (Jubilee 2025 AD, bite 226)
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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