It is 14th October 2020.
The readings are from Galatians 5:18-25; and the Gospel from Luke 11:42-46.
For us, we have only two options in spiritual life; either led by the promptings of the Spirit of God or attracted and acted upon by the inclinations of the evil spirit. We have a self-dominated life or Spirit-directed life. We each one of us know by which we are leading our life as we reflect this reading.
“Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God” (Rom 8:14).
St. Paul proposes fifteen behaviours that are harmful to our spiritual life. It is the description of a selfish and sinful person’s characteristics. “Live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh” (Gal 5:16). The work of the flesh limits us and blinds us to see the power of the Holy Spirit in our life while fruits of the Spirit frees us and makes us fruitful in our life. The Spirit of God teaches us to be humane as we embrace the values of Christian life. We all need to work on our slavery to sin and to transform ourselves to be selfless by our life in the Spirit. More we gratify our bodily desires, more we become self-centred, selfish and sinful. “What the Spirit brings is very different: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Gal. 5:22).
The responsorial Psalm praises, “Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.” (Jn.8:12).
In the Gospel, Jesus attacks and criticises the attitudes of Pharisees. Scrupulosity, attention seeking, and giving extreme importance to rituals are the attitudes were chided by Jesus in some of the Pharisees who deviated people from God. Honour and respect are to be given spontaneously; it cannot be demanded, expected from anyone. These pharisaic tendencies are found among us even today in our churches, communities, and families. We all need to work on the Pharisaism right within each one of us. May the Lord help us to live in the Spirit and deal with what is limiting us. Have a lovely day. God bless you.