Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Fr. Robert Hater, a former professor from the University of Dayton, in our classes on morality and ethics taught me something I have never forgotten. He said, “The homilies I get the most complements on are the ones that I preach about sin.” To this day I have been confounded by this, perhaps it is because people truly want to be challenged. While this still may be true, it is also true that readings like today’s may make us in the very least, uncomfortable.
In Galatians , St. Paul wanted to draw a clear contrast between spirit of this world and life in the Spirit. Paul is challenging us to understand a life of sin, which he describes with a list of works of the flesh including impurity, idolatry and selfishness. This list is contrasted by another that states the fruits of the Spirit which include love, joy and peace. Contemplating these lists may be similar to an examination of conscience. The main focus is to encourage believers to live a life that is guided by the Spirit.
How does one know they are guided by the Spirit? The first reading from Paul to Galatians may give us some insight. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Gal. 5:22) If one’s life is manifesting the fruits of the Spirit then there is a good chance you are surrendering your life to the Holy Spirit. Some days we are better at it than others. On days when you might be struggling with envy, jealousy, idolatry or anger, prayerfully place your soul in the hands of the Lord. Yoke yourself to the Lord so as to be a more faithful disciple. Also it is not enough to live out our discipleship with a minimalist approach just doing what is simply required. If we go to Mass and remain unmoved by the Word, the prayer or the sacraments then have we fulfilled the spirit of Worship? If we simply do not lie or do not steal have lived out the challenge to “love one another.” When our life reflects this greatest commandment then we will not only think and talk like a disciple, we will also act as faithful disciple, whose Life is guided by the Spirit!
- Deacon Michael Montgomery