Meditation
for Wednesday of the 28th in Ordinary Time, Year C
(Gal 5:18-25;
Lk 11:42-46)
On the other hand, those who follow the perverted gospel, who trust in their ability to keep the law, will slide away from the Spirit and end in the works of the flesh. “Now the works of the flesh are plain: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like.” St. Paul warns that those who manifest such behaviors shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
In the same way, Jesus condemned the Pharisees who made
show of their practice of religion, and emphasized the external practice of the
law, but neglect justice and the love of God, which are the works of the Holy
Spirit. It means that if we do not allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify our inner
selves, and become the internal energy that prompts our actions, we cannot produce
the fruits of the Spirit. To such people who produce fruits of the flesh Jesus
says, “Woe to you! For you are like graves which are not seen, and men walk
over them without knowing it.”
At the end, we thank God for St. Paul’s letter to the
Galatians. The lessons he taught are very relevant to us today because there
are so many fake preachers who go around spreading adulterated gospel messages.
St. Paul had given us ways to escape their trap. The ultimate fruits the gospel
bear in us are the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and eternal life in God’s kingdom.
That is why St. Paul concluded today’s reading by saying, “And those who belong
to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we
live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” Amen.
Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Wednesday October 12, 2022.
