Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
October 13, 2021
Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 469
Reading I
You, O man, are without excuse, every one of you who passes judgment.
For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself,
since you, the judge, do the very same things.
We know that the judgment of God on those who do such things is true.
Do you suppose, then, you who judge those who engage in such things
and yet do them yourself,
that you will escape the judgment of God?
Or do you hold his priceless kindness, forbearance, and patience
in low esteem, unaware that the kindness of God
would lead you to repentance?
By your stubbornness and impenitent heart,
you are storing up wrath for yourself
for the day of wrath and revelation
of the just judgment of God,
who will repay everyone according to his works,
eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality
through perseverance in good works,
but wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth
and obey wickedness.
Yes, affliction and distress will come upon everyone
who does evil, Jew first and then Greek.
But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone
who does good, Jew first and then Greek.
There is no partiality with God.
Responsorial Psalm
- (13b) Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.
Only in God is my soul at rest;
from him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all.
R. Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.
Only in God be at rest, my soul,
for from him comes my hope.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed.
R. Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.
Trust in him at all times, O my people!
Pour out your hearts before him;
God is our refuge!
R. Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.
Alleluia
- Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
The Lord said:
“Woe to you Pharisees!
You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb,
but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God.
These you should have done, without overlooking the others.
Woe to you Pharisees!
You love the seat of honor in synagogues
and greetings in marketplaces.
Woe to you!
You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.”
Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply,
“Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.”
And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law!
You impose on people burdens hard to carry,
but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.”
Reflection: UNCOMPROMISING AUTHENTICITY
Paul gives us three important lessons for our consideration today: (1) We should never judge. There is only one judge who is just, God. His judgement is true. God is patient, great-hearted and kind. These are the qualities that make a fair judge. It is only the knowing, kind, patient and great-hearted people who will judge correctly. (2) God will repay each one as his works deserve. For Paul, 'faith without good works is a dead faith'. A man's faith is known by his good deeds, as a tree is known by its fruits. (3) God does not see as man sees. God looks at the heart. He sees the heart of man. The Gospel is on the conflict between Jesus and the religious authority. Jesus tells the Scribes and Pharisees to make a paradigm shift: 'Practice what you preach'. We understand the Bible as salvation history. But they were only interested in the laws contained in Pentateuch, the five books of Moses. Jesus accused them of being proud, selfish, insincere, and of not practicing what they preach. He wanted them to take the whole bible and live in its spirit: the spirit of love. Jesus called the attention of the disciples to the hypocritical life of Scribes and Pharisees. Faith makes one authentic inside and outside. It is not for seeking attention, honour, privileges in public places and functions. The essence of God's commandments is love: 'love of God and love of neighbour'. God is love and everything he does flows from his love for us. We just need to step into Jesus' shoes and live like Hm. That is authenticity.