But according to you, by the mere giving of alms everything is made clean.
REFLECTION:
St. Paul had a big quarrel with his Christian community in Galatia.
That is why his letter to the Galatians is possibly one of his most vitriolic letters!
He scolds them! For what? There were Judaisers – those who wanted the new converts “to become Jews”
in order to be saved – who were disturbing and confusing the Galatians who had rejoiced in the Gospel Paul had taught,
namely, that it is Faith in Jesus that saves, not the observance of the Law!
There is only one Gospel (refer to October 5) that saves! And it is the Gospel of Mercy!
In the Gospel, Jesus offers this Gospel of mercy to the Pharisee who invited him to dinner.
The Pharisee expected Him to meticulously observe the prescriptions of the Jewish Law even in regard to eating.
So we find Jesus explaining to the Pharisee that what really matters is the observance of the true demands of the Law,
namely, accepting the free gift of salvation,
Grace (the “indicative of salvation”) and a life of mercy (the “imperative of salvation”).
In the next few days as we continue reading from Galatians we will understand this more.
For now, the Gospel reminds us that the sincerity and cleanliness of our hearts is more important than externalism.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2020