Being "led by the Spirit" means living a transformed life from the inside out,

Instead of avoiding sin out of fear of punishment under legal codes,

Spirit-led believers naturally fulfill the underlying intent of God's law through love.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊      

Galatians 5:18-25 

But when you

Are led by the Spirit you are not under the law.

You know what comes from the flesh: fornication, impurity and shamelessness,

idol worship and sorcery, hatred, jealousy and violence, anger, ambition, division,

factions, and envy, drunkenness, orgies and the like. I again say to you what I have already said:

those who do these things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy and peace, patience, understanding of others,

kindness and fidelity, gentleness and self-control. For such things there is no law or punishment.

Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its vices and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us live in a spiritual way.

 

Ps 1:1-2,3,4,6

Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊    

Luke 11:42-46

"A curse is on you Pharisees! To the temple you give a tenth of all,

including mint and rue and other herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God.

These ought to be practiced, without neglecting the other obligations. A curse is on you Pharisees,

for you love the best seats in the synagogues and to be greeted in the marketplace.

A curse is on you, for you are like tombstones of the dead which can hardly be seen;

 

people don't notice them, and make themselves unclean by stepping on them."

Then a teacher of the law spoke up and said, "Master, when you speak like this, you insult us, too."

And Jesus answered, "A curse is on you also, teachers of the law.

For you prepare unbearable burdens and load them on the people,

while you yourselves do not move a finger to help them."

 

 Gospel Reflection ：

The Spirit lives in us and moves us.

Being baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity, being welcomed into the Church,

and being named as children of God is a wonderful blessing. Our identity as children of God grants us

the grace to live out what it means to be disciples of Christ.The Spirit in whose name we are baptized lives

in us and moves us into a life lived according to the precepts of God.

The same Spirit keeps us open to welcoming the good that this world offers and strengthens us

 

when confronted with the lures of the flesh.  Hence, one needs to be open to listening

to the promptings of the Spirit, in whose name we are baptized - the Spirit of God,

which leads us to charity, joy and peace, patience,

understanding of others, kindness and fidelity, gentleness, and self-control.

May we always be attentive and responsive to the promptings of the Spirit in our lives.