A great reminder today that through our faith in Jesus Christ, we have been freed from the yoke of slavery, and we should resist all sin and temptations so as not to fall back into the clutches of sin.
That being said, we should not look on outward appearances of piety and reverence. Instead, always and above, we want to take a holistic approach of examining our conscience and ask the Lord, our God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to remove all that is not of Him from us, from within, so that our integrity remains beyond reproach.
For the Lord sees our heart.
Lord Jesus, you search me and you know me. Cleanse me, Lord, so that I may be beyond reproach to glorify your name always. Amen.
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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.
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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.’
