HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 28TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME OF YEAR II. (2)

HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 28TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME OF YEAR II.

THEME: As Jesus had earlier criticized the Pharisees, he now criticizes the lawyers for loading unendurable burdens onto people.

BY: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA.

HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 12 2022.

*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Galatians 5:18-25
Psalm 1:1-4,6
Luke 11:42-46

*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
GREEN

*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
In today’s first reading, Paul reminds us that ‘the Spirit is our life’ and if we allow ourselves ‘to be directed by the Spirit’ it will bear rich fruit in our lives, which Paul identifies as ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’. This is the life that the Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit of God, can create within us. Far from describing someone who is burdened, this is the portrait of the human person fully alive.

*FROM OUR GOSPEL READING*
Jesus uses strong words of rebuke to teachers and lawyers in today’s gospel by saying, ‘woe to you.’ This is to point out that their religious practices do not spring from the love of God. It is because they fail to listen to God’s word and mislead the people they are supposed to guide in the ways of God. They divided the Ten Commandments and precepts into thousands of tiny rules and regulations. They require unnecessary and burdensome rules which obscure the more important matters of religion, such as love of God and love of neighbor. They are leading people to Pharisaism rather than to God.

*CONCLUSION*
Dear brothers and sisters, we become like these teachers of the law when the following attitudes are found among us like: anger, jealousy, enmity, ambitions, immoral, filthy and indecent actions, idol worship, witchcraft, drunkenness and orgies.
Actually when Jesus rebukes these teachers of the law He is pointing out the essence of God’s commandments of love of God and love of neighbor. God is love and everything He does flows from His love for us. Love is sacrificial and both commandments .
Lord in your mercy, hear our humble prayers.