Scripture Reflection and Prayer : Journeying together

Tuesday, 13 October 2026

CRITERIA TO DISCERN WHETHER ONE IS LIVING A SPIRIT LED LIFE

20261014 CRITERIA TO DISCERN WHETHER ONE IS LIVING A SPIRIT LED LIFE

14 October 2026, Wednesday, 28th Week in Ordinary Time

First reading

Galatians 5:18-25

To belong to Christ, crucify all self-indulgence

If you are led by the Spirit, no law can touch you. When self-indulgence is at work the results are obvious: fornication, gross indecency and sexual irresponsibility; idolatry and sorcery; feuds and wrangling, jealousy, bad temper and quarrels; disagreements, factions, envy; drunkenness, orgies and similar things. I warn you now, as I warned you before: those who behave like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. What the Spirit brings is very different: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control. There can be no law against things like that, of course. You cannot belong to Christ Jesus unless you crucify all self-indulgent passions and desires.

Since the Spirit is our life, let us be directed by the Spirit.

How to listen

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 1:1-4,6

Anyone who follows you, O Lord, will have the light of life.

Happy indeed is the man

who follows not the counsel of the wicked;

nor lingers in the way of sinners

nor sits in the company of scorners,

but whose delight is the law of the Lord

and who ponders his law day and night.

Anyone who follows you, O Lord, will have the light of life.

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.

Anyone who follows you, O Lord, will have the light of life.

Not so are the wicked, not so!

For they like winnowed chaff

shall be driven away by the wind:

for the Lord guards the way of the just

but the way of the wicked leads to doom.

Anyone who follows you, O Lord, will have the light of life.

Gospel Acclamation

cf.Ps26:11

Alleluia, alleluia!

Instruct me, Lord, in your way;

on an even path lead me.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Luke 11:42-46

You overlook justice and the love of God

The Lord said to the Pharisees: ‘Alas for you Pharisees! You who pay your tithe of mint and rue and all sorts of garden herbs and overlook justice and the love of God! These you should have practised, without leaving the others undone. Alas for you Pharisees who like taking the seats of honour in the synagogues and being greeted obsequiously in the market squares! Alas for you, because you are like the unmarked tombs that men walk on without knowing it!

A lawyer then spoke up. ‘Master,’ he said ‘when you speak like this you insult us too.’

‘Alas for you lawyers also,’ he replied ‘because you load on men burdens that are unendurable, burdens that you yourselves do not move a finger to lift.’

CRITERIA TO DISCERN WHETHER ONE IS LIVING A SPIRIT LED LIFE

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [GALATIANS 5:18-25; LUKE 11:42-46]

The letter to the Galatians encourages Christians to live and walk by the Spirit. Having already received the gift of the Holy Spirit, living by the Spirit stands in contrast to living by the flesh. To live by the flesh is to engage in self-indulgent activities that satisfy natural inclinations, which are often disoriented and lacking in self-control. St. Paul gives us the criteria for when we allow our natural inclinations to direct our lives. These inclinations are not inherently wrong, but because of our wounded nature, we easily allow human desires to control us: “When self-indulgence is at work the results are obvious: fornication, gross indecency and sexual irresponsibility; idolatry and sorcery; feuds and wrangling, jealousy, bad temper and quarrels; disagreements, factions, envy; drunkenness, orgies and similar things.”

When we do not exercise self-control, what is naturally good can turn into something evil when carried to excess. Indeed, love between two persons is good, as are appropriate expressions of love like a hug or a gentle kiss. However, when we do not control our sexual desires, it leads to sexual disorder like “fornication, gross indecency and sexual irresponsibility.” When we gratify our human nature–when we are selfish and inward-looking–we become insecure and view others as enemies and competitors. As a consequence, we engage in “feuds and wrangling, jealousy, bad temper and quarrels; disagreements, factions, envy.” All these are manifestations of a chaotic nature. There is an inner division within the person. He loses his self-control and rationality, allowing his fears, insecurities, and desires to control his life, resulting in “idolatry and sorcery, drunkenness, orgies and similar things.”

But can the law help to control our sinful nature? Often, the law is used as an external curb or control on human nature when it is disordered. The Law of God should be welcomed because it enables us to live an upright and righteous life. Obedience to the commandments of God allows us to share in God’s holiness, love, and mercy. It is God’s gift to His people. In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses said to the people: “I now teach you statutes and ordinances for you to observe in the land that you are about to enter and occupy. You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!’ For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is whenever we call to him? And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today?” (Dt 4:5-8). By following these laws, they could live as God’s children and together prosper, living in harmony and love. But there is a big “if,” because we know that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Even Jesus knows that!

If religious laws are inadequate to control the impulsive behaviour of man, civil laws are even more helpless. Civil laws differ from religious morality. They are ethical guidelines designed to help society live harmoniously. Morality consists of religious, personal, or cultural beliefs about right and wrong–internal principles that govern an individual’s conduct. Ethics, on the other hand, are external rules that regulate the harmonious functioning of society. Some civil laws are not morally right; they are merely accommodations to a society seeking selfish pleasures within limits that do not encroach upon the freedom of others. Hence, society might allow legal prostitution, gambling, drinking, sexual permissiveness, immodest dressing, gay activities, and other “sinful” activities, so long as they remain within limits set by the culture of the community. Legislated civil laws need not necessarily be moral, but are tolerated in a modern society. Yet, the laws themselves cannot prevent people from breaking them. This is why, despite the heavy penalties associated with breaking the law–such as for sexual crimes, criminal breach of trust, scamming and cheating, or violating traffic laws–we still hear every day of people being charged and convicted of such crimes.

Whereas if we allow the Spirit of God to lead us, He will raise us to greater heights because our motivation will not be fear, obligation, or ego. We will be driven by love and conviction. We must clarify that the Spirit is not against the Law. The Spirit is the fulfilment of the Law, which is good but impossible to carry out through our own willpower and efforts alone. This is what the Lord said in the Gospel: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil.” (Mt 5:17). The Holy Spirit is the New Law in the New Testament. Writing to the Romans, St. Paul says: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Rom 8:2-4). This is why St. Paul warns us not to live according to the flesh: “for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” (Rom 8:13f).

So how do we know that we are walking in the Spirit and not deceiving ourselves? Paul defines the characteristics of those who live by the Spirit: “What the Spirit brings is very different: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control. There can be no law against things like that, of course.” Indeed, true freedom and happiness in life come when we enjoy the fruits of the Spirit. When we manifest the fruits of the Spirit, we feel at peace with ourselves and experience joy in our hearts. We are not easily irritated or impatient because we empathise with others and see the goodness in them, remaining gentle and kind when they fail to live a life of the Spirit. Most of all, we have self-control because we no longer allow our flesh or our uncontrollable desires and emotions to direct our lives.

Consequently, in today’s Gospel, Jesus reprimanded the religious leaders for their hypocrisy. On the surface, they seemed to be obedient to the Law. In fact, they were meticulous in observing every single detail of the law–to the point of lacking prudence and judgment. They were obsessed with the small details of the law, but overlooked the bigger picture and the fundamental principles of justice and the love of God. The Lord said to the Pharisees: “Alas for you Pharisees! You who pay your tithe of mint and rue and all sorts of garden herbs and overlook justice and the love of God! These you should have practised, without leaving the others undone.”

In truth, by acting this way, they were not people of the Spirit but of the flesh, because their motivation was not love for God and their fellow human beings. They were motivated by pride, seeking honour, recognition, and praise. Their motives for observing the law were not noble. The laws were observed externally, but their hearts were not changed. The Lord said: “Alas for you Pharisees who like taking the seats of honour in the synagogues and being greeted obsequiously in the market squares! Alas for you, because you are like the unmarked tombs that men walk on without knowing it!” Indeed, the laws became another form of slavery that drained the life and joy out of people. When a lawyer spoke up, saying, “‘Master,’ he said ‘when you speak like this you insult us too.’ ‘Alas for you lawyers also,’ he replies, ‘because you load on men burdens that are unendurable, burdens that you yourselves do not move a finger to lift.'”

So, according to Jesus, the real measure of living the life of the Spirit is love of the supreme good: God Himself, and our neighbours who are made in the image and likeness of God. God is love, and if we are God’s children, then we must love like Him (1 Jn 4:8). To walk in the Spirit is to do everything out of the love of God within us. Love is always directed toward the good of others. It embraces the weaknesses of others and seeks to carry their burdens with them. If we truly walk in the Spirit, we will not do anything that causes pain, suffering, or injustice to our fellow human beings. And we can love in this way only when the love of God is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us (Rom 5:5). Let us, therefore, be discerning, walking in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Only the Spirit gives life; the flesh has nothing to offer. Let us live in true freedom and joy in the Spirit, so that when people see us living in such a manner, they too will ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections

Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.

Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.

Monday, 12 October 2026

FAITH MAKING ITS POWER FELT THROUGH LOVE

20261013 FAITH MAKING ITS POWER FELT THROUGH LOVE

13 October 2026, Tuesday, 28th Week in Ordinary Time

First reading

Galatians 5:1-6

It is faith, not the Law, that justifies us

When Christ freed us, he meant us to remain free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. It is I, Paul, who tell you this: if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all. With all solemnity I repeat my warning: Everyone who accepts circumcision is obliged to keep the whole Law. But if you do look to the Law to make you justified, then you have separated yourselves from Christ, and have fallen from grace. Christians are told by the Spirit to look to faith for those rewards that righteousness hopes for, since in Christ Jesus whether you are circumcised or not makes no difference – what matters is faith that makes its power felt through love.

How to listen

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 118(119):41,43-45,47-48

Lord, let your love come upon me.

Lord, let your love come upon me,

the saving help of your promise.

Do not take the word of truth from my mouth

for I trust in your decrees.

Lord, let your love come upon me.

I shall always keep your law

for ever and ever.

I shall walk in the path of freedom

for I seek your precepts.

Lord, let your love come upon me.

Your commands have been my delight;

these I have loved.

I will worship your commands and love them

and ponder your statutes.

Lord, let your love come upon me.

Gospel Acclamation

Ps118:135

Alleluia, alleluia!

Let your face shine on your servant,

and teach me your decrees.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Luke 11:37-41

Give thanks for what you have and it will all be clean

Jesus had just finished speaking when a Pharisee invited him to dine at his house. He went in and sat down at the table. The Pharisee saw this and was surprised that he had not first washed before the meal. But the Lord said to him, ‘Oh, you Pharisees! You clean the outside of cup and plate, while inside yourselves you are filled with extortion and wickedness. Fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside too? Instead, give alms from what you have and then indeed everything will be clean for you.’

FAITH MAKING ITS POWER FELT THROUGH LOVE

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [GALATIANS 5:1-6; LUKE 11:37-41]

“When Christ freed us, he meant us to remain free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.”

There are two kinds of slavery from which Jesus came to liberate us. Both enslave us in different ways, and both prevent us from living a life of authentic freedom. Yet, not everyone agrees on what truly enslaves us. How do we know when we are in bondage? We know it when our actions leave us unhappy and miserable. As St. Paul warns us: “Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal 5:19-21)

The truth is that when we live under the rule of sin, we are trapped in addiction. All addictions are a form of slavery because they cause us to lose self-control. Sin leads to slavery precisely because it robs us of our freedom to choose. Therefore, it is a contradiction when those living in sin claim they are free to do whatever they like. They may be free to sin, but they are not free to choose otherwise; they have no power to break away from it. Sin holds us tightly, making sinful habits difficult to break. In varying degrees and intensities, we all experience the bondage of the seven capital sins: Pride, Envy, Anger, Sloth, Gluttony, Lust, and Covetousness. Those deeply bound by one or more of these sins often find it nearly impossible to escape. These capital sins consume us until we can no longer resist temptation, no matter how hard we try.

St. Paul describes this inner conflict in his letter to the Romans: “For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am of the flesh, sold into slavery under sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am!” (cf Rom 7:14-24)

Ironically, true happiness comes from placing ourselves under the rule of God. On the surface, the world views this as no better, believing we are simply swapping one master for another–becoming slaves of God instead of slaves of sin. So, what is the difference? Do the “slaves” of God find greater happiness than the slaves of sin and Satan? Are we merely surrendering our personal freedom for God’s rule?

This explains why many people assume religious believers are worse off. They see religion as a heavy list of rules to follow, rituals to perform, and designated days to observe. Believers must attend church or temple, offer prayers, and make sacrifices. Bound by countless “dos and don’ts,” many end up living in fear and guilt whenever they break a commandment, terrified of God’s wrath, punishment, or eternal condemnation in hell. To the secular world, religious life seems neither happy nor liberating.

Indeed, every Sunday we see people dragging their feet to church, arriving late just as the Gospel reading ends. Given the choice, they would prefer to sleep in and go out for lunch. Those who attend Mass purely out of fear of breaking the law may be physically present, but their spirits are elsewhere–checking their phones, closing their eyes, or letting their minds wander. Some stand near the exit and slip away immediately after Communion. While they might take comfort in knowing they checked the box and avoided God’s judgment, are they truly happy? Do they feel free? Do they experience the fullness of life?

In truth, the answer is no. Religion for them is merely an added burden, and at times, they secretly wish they had never been baptised Catholic.

St. Paul addresses this very reality: whether we are under the bondage of sin or the bondage of the law, we remain unfree. He speaks specifically to the context of the Mosaic Law, particularly the requirement for Jewish males to be circumcised: “If you allow yourselves to be circumcised, Christ will be no benefit to you at all. Everyone who accepts circumcision is obliged to keep the whole Law. But if you do look to the Law to make you justified, then you have separated yourselves from Christ, and have fallen from grace.” (cf. Gal 5:2-4)

The Jews who claimed that Christians must observe all Mosaic laws in order to be saved were denying that Christ is our sole saviour. In any case, they knew that no one can observe the law perfectly, a reality Paul knew first-hand from his own internal struggles as a devout Jew.

How then can we be certain that in Christ we are truly free? St. Paul writes: “Christians are told by the Spirit to look to faith for, since in Christ Jesus whether you are circumcised or not makes no difference – what matters is faith that makes its power felt through love.” (Gal 5:5-6)

For Christians, salvation comes through faith in Christ, who died for our sins to set us free from both sin and bondage to the law. Our Christian freedom is not earned by our own efforts; it is a gift given in Christ. As Paul explained earlier: “If a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law. But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” (Gal 3:21-22)

Clearly, we are all condemned prisoners by the law and under the slavery of “elemental spirits of the world.” (Gal 4:3) The law itself cannot save us; it can only point out our transgressions. “Apart from the law sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.” (cf. Rom 7:9-10, 13) Through the law, sin is exposed for what it is.

Yet, Christ has delivered us from both the law and sin. He redeemed us from the curse of the law “by becoming a curse for us–for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.'” (Gal 3:13) Thus, “when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.” (Gal 4:4-5) Because we believe in Christ, God has sent “the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.” (Gal 4:6-7)

Having been made a new creation and set free from the bondage of sin and the law–through no merit of our own–we now have the responsibility to live as free people. This is why Paul urges us: “When Christ freed us, he meant us to remain free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.” (Gal 5:1) Christ frees us so that we can live in genuine freedom, doing what is good and right not out of fear or a desire to earn salvation (which has already been given), but to confirm our identity as God’s children. As St. Peter writes: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.” (2 Pt 1:10-11)

This faith is a “faith that makes its power felt through love.” We know our faith in Christ’s saving death is genuine when God’s love flows through our lives. Through His death and the gift of the Holy Spirit, God empowers us to do what is right according to His will. This is what the Lord meant when He reprimanded the Pharisees: “Oh, you Pharisees! You clean the outside of cup and plate, while inside yourselves you are filled with extortion and wickedness. Fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside too? Instead, give alms from what you have and then indeed everything will be clean for you.” (Lk 11:39-41)

True freedom is not a blind observance of laws, but a love that flows freely from the heart without seeking merit or reward.

Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections

Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.

Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.