28TH WEDNESDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Lk 11:42-46) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“Woe to you! You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.” (Lk 11:44)

FIRST READING - Rom 2:1-11

"God, who will repay everyone according to his works, Jew first and then Greek."

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans

^1 [a]Therefore, you are without excuse, every one of you who passes judgment.^[b] For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the very same things. ² We know that the judgment of God on those who do such things is true. ³ Do you suppose, then, you who judge those who engage in such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? ⁴ Or do you hold his priceless kindness, forbearance, and patience in low esteem, unaware that the kindness of God would lead you to repentance? ⁵ By your stubbornness and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself for the day of wrath and revelation of the just judgment of God, ⁶ who will repay everyone according to his works:^{[c] 7} eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality through perseverance in good works, ⁸ but wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickedness. ⁹ Yes, affliction and distress will come upon every human being who does evil, Jew first and then Greek. ¹⁰ But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, Jew first and then Greek. ^11 [d]There is no partiality with God.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Lk 11:42-46

 ^"Woe to you Pharisees! Woe also to you scholars of the law!"

✠From the Gospel according to Luke

⁴² Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God. These you should have done, without overlooking the others. ⁴³ Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces. ⁴⁴ Woe to you! You are like unseen graves^[a] over which people unknowingly walk.”

⁴⁵ Then one of the scholars of the law^[b] said to him in reply, “Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.” ⁴⁶ And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.

28TH WEDNESDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Lk 11:42-46)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear people of God,

The Word of God in today’s Gospel, God desires to teach humanity a lesson that we must have a humble heart and live justly and charitably with one another, because in today's world, people live in much falsehood, injustice, hatred, jealousy, and division.

God calls His children to be alert and mindful of their actions and deeds. Do not fall into Satan's traps, for they will seek to infiltrate each person's mind and actions, sowing injustice among humankind. From that will arise injustice, jealousy, hatred, division, and a lack of trust in one another. God does not want to see hatred and killing among humanity.

Therefore, today's Word of God invites everyone:

• Have absolute faith and trust in Him, and listen to and follow His teachings: to live in love, live justly, and be charitable towards others.

To live that out, each person must possess a heart of humility, self-abasement, simplicity, and littleness before God and others; for only when people have a heart of love, forgiveness, and humility can they overcome Satan's temptations.

Furthermore, God calls everyone to look at the image of the Pharisees and the scholars of the law, and draw a lesson for ourselves. Do not keep the law merely in its outward form without living and practicing according to God's calling. What God calls for is to live the law of love, which is the only and most perfect law, placed above all human-made laws.

Through today's Word of God, God also warns the successors in the Church not to treat their fellow human beings with "the law"; for if they use the law for judgment without love among people, they will fall into Satan's trap.

Therefore, today's Word of God invites everyone worldwide, especially the leaders in the Church, to:

• Treat your fellow human beings with the law of love and the law of charity.

• Look up to God's love for humanity and imitate it in how you treat your fellow human beings.

God does not want His good shepherds to fall into Satan's trap, which is to use human laws to judge their fellow brothers and sisters.

Thanks be to God. Amen.