The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today present lists of vices and virtues as we ponder the destiny of the good and the wicked while trying to avoid over scrupulous attitudes.
The Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Galatians lists common vices and virtues.
* [5:19–23] Such lists of vices and virtues (cf. Rom 1:29–31; 1 Cor 6:9–10) were common in the ancient world. Paul contrasts works of the flesh (Gal 5:19) with fruit (not “works”) of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). Not law, but the Spirit, leads to such traits.
* [5:21] Occasions of envy: after the Greek word phthonoi, “envies,” some manuscripts add a similar sounding one, phonoi, “murders.” (Galatians, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 1 contrasts with striking similes the destiny of the good and the wicked.
* [Psalm 1] A preface to the whole Book of Psalms, contrasting with striking similes the destiny of the good and the wicked. The Psalm views life as activity, as choosing either the good or the bad. Each “way” brings its inevitable consequences. The wise through their good actions will experience rootedness and life, and the wicked, rootlessness and death.
* [1:1] The way: a common biblical term for manner of living or moral conduct (Ps 32:8; 101:2, 6; Prv 2:20; 1 Kgs 8:36).
* [1:2] The law of the LORD: either the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, or, more probably, divine teaching or instruction.
* [1:4] The wicked: those who by their actions distance themselves from God’s life-giving presence. (Psalms, PSALM 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke presents a Denunciation of the Pharisees and Scholars of the Law.
* [11:37–54] This denunciation of the Pharisees (Lk 11:39–44) and the scholars of the law (Lk 11:45–52) is set by Luke in the context of Jesus’ dining at the home of a Pharisee. Controversies with or reprimands of Pharisees are regularly set by Luke within the context of Jesus’ eating with Pharisees (see Lk 5:29–39; 7:36–50; 14:1–24). A different compilation of similar sayings is found in Mt 23 (see also notes there).
* [11:44] Unseen graves: contact with the dead or with human bones or graves (see Nm 19:16) brought ritual impurity. Jesus presents the Pharisees as those who insidiously lead others astray through their seeming attention to the law.
* [11:45] Scholars of the law: see note on Lk 10:25. (Luke, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB, n.d.)
David Crawford comments that Paul, as a young Pharisee before his conversion, would have been familiar with the rigid legalism that burdened individuals and their communities. So, after warning the Galatians about the sinful nature of works of the flesh, he quickly turns attention to the fruit of the Spirit.
That is what we should desire. When we give ourselves over to the Spirit working in our lives, the burden of resisting the wrong things will be lessened as our self-control increases; and we and those we encounter will experience love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, and gentleness.
Loving God, keep us from the worldly temptations of the flesh and continue to work in us so that we become the people you want us to be, so that we individually and as a community bring your love to those we encounter. Holy Spirit, let your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control flourish in us and flow through us to reach others. (Crawford, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Binding heavy burdens on others,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).
"Just as the scribes and Pharisees wickedly sat upon the throne of Moses, so do some in the church who sit upon the ecclesiastical throne. There are some in the church who have the right understanding of the law and pass it on correctly. They say what each person needs to do, but they themselves do not do it. Some of them lay heavy burdens upon the shoulders of men, but they won't even lift a finger to help. These are the ones the Savior is talking about when he says, 'Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of God' (Matthew 5:19). There are others, however, who sit on the throne, who act before they speak and speak wisely, restraining those who are disordered. They place merciful burdens on the shoulders of others. They themselves are the first to lift the heavy burden, for the exhortation of other listeners. It is these of whom the Lord speaks when he says, 'He who does so and teaches others to do so, this man will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.'" (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 9) (Schwager, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the message in Galatians where Paul contrasts flesh and spirit and our concupiscence. The list of disordered acts suggests our lives will be in confusion as we follow the works of flesh. The works of the Spirit are taken from the Hebrew Testament, Greek philosophy, and Paul’s ideas. The superlative in Hebrew is expressed by a triple repetition. The 3x3 grouping of the works of the Spirit indicates the best of the best. With Advent approaching we might think of the virtue we intend to practice throughout Advent. The Pharisee pays tithes on mint and of rue and this is like counting grains of salt. Jesus declares that they are over scrupulous and forget the important practices of charity and humility. Friar Jude comments that the scrupulous following rules of the Law results in religiosity and external practice that may omit charity, goddess and ignore the heart of faith.
The Word Among Us Meditation on Psalm 1:1-4, 6 comments that Paul also came to see that meditating on that very same Law—the Law enshrined in the word of God—opened him to the Holy Spirit and produced the fruit that he talks about in today’s first reading (Galatians 5:22-23): fruit like joy, patience, generosity, and self-control.
This is the blessedness that comes to us as we contemplate God’s law. He fills us with his life and starts to lessen our desires for sin and our drive toward selfishness. The weight of striving on our own power falls away, and our love for his ways grows. Because God’s love and his desire for us to walk with him are part of every one of his decrees.
Today, let’s proclaim with the psalmist that we delight in the law of the Lord! (Meditation on Psalm 1:1-4, 6, 2026)
Father Richard Rohr, OFM, reflects on Homer’s Odyssey as an archetypal story that reveals the necessary journey from and return to home.
And so, like Odysseus, we leave from Ithaca and we come back to Ithaca, but now it is fully home because all is included and nothing wasted or hated; even the dark parts are used in our favor. All is forgiven. What else could homecoming be?!
Poet C. P. Cavafy (1863–1933) expressed this understanding most beautifully in his famous poem “Ithaca.” This is my rendering of its final lines:
Ithaca has now given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her, you would never have taken the road.
With the great wisdom you have gained on your voyage,
with so much of your own experience now,
you must finally know what Ithaca really means. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)
Concupiscence has been defined as the inherent human tendency toward lower, disordered passions and self-gratification (e.g., lust, greed, pride) resulting from original sin. Experiencing an attraction or temptation to do something selfish or forbidden. It is not a sin in itself. It is a consequence of the human condition that inclines one toward sin. Scrupulosity describes a form of moral perfectionism or religious Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) characterized by pathological doubt and fear of sin. (Google, n.d.)
We invoke the Spirit to enlighten our understanding of the human condition that may draw us to attraction to behaviour that is self focused or is overly concerned with moral perfection.
References
Crawford, D. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-october-14-2026
Galatians, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/5?18
Google. (n.d.). Concupiscence and Scrupulosity. Google. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://www.google.com/search?q=Concupiscence+and+Scrupulosity&rlz=1CAEVJI_enCA962CA962&oq=Concupiscence+and+Scrupulosity&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIGCAEQRRg90gEIMTk1NGowajeoAgiwAgHxBexPAVd-kbx-8QXsTwFXfpG8fg&sourceid=chrome&source=chrome.ob&ie=UTF-8
Luke, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/11?42
Meditation on Psalm 1:1-4, 6. (2026, October 14). The Word Among Us. October 14, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/10/14/1693302/
Psalms, PSALM 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/1?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Odyssey: A Story of Homegoing. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-odyssey-a-story-of-homegoing/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). You Load Burdens Hard to Bear. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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