The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to ponder the role of freedom in our embrace of faith and how we need to expect our experience to change with maturity.
The Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Galatians proclaims the Importance of Faith.
* [5:1–6] Paul begins the exhortations, continuing through Gal 6:10, with an appeal to the Galatians to side with freedom instead of slavery (Gal 5:1). He reiterates his message of justification or righteousness by faith instead of law and circumcision (Gal 5:2–5); cf. Gal 2:16; 3:3. Faith, not circumcision, is what counts (Gal 5:6).
* [5:1] Freedom: Paul stresses as the conclusion from the allegory in Gal 4:21–31 this result of Christ’s work for us. It is a principle previously mentioned (Gal 2:4), the responsible use of which Gal 5:13 will emphasize.
* [5:3] Cf. Gal 3:10–12. Just as those who seek to live by the law must carry out all its contents, so those who have faith and live by promise must stand firm in their freedom (Gal 5:1, 13).
* [5:6] Cf. Rom 2:25–26; 1 Cor 7:19; Gal 6:15. The Greek for faith working through love or “faith expressing itself through love” can also be rendered as “faith energized by (God’s) love.” (Galatians, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 119 praises God for giving such splendid laws and instruction for people to live by.
* [Psalm 119] This Psalm, the longest by far in the Psalter, praises God for giving such splendid laws and instruction for people to live by. The author glorifies and thanks God for the Torah, prays for protection from sinners enraged by others’ fidelity to the law, laments the cost of obedience, delights in the law’s consolations, begs for wisdom to understand the precepts, and asks for the rewards of keeping them…
* [119:48] I lift up my hands to your commandments: to lift up the hands was an ancient gesture of reverence to God. Here the picture is applied to God’s law. (Psalms, PSALM 119 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke presents 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). (Luke, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB, n.d.)
The daily reflection is from the archives and was written by Luis Rodriquez, SJ. who comments that Jesus disapproves of placing observance purely on external things, regardless of internal disposition, and of making righteousness look like jumping through external hoops.
Jesus uses the giving of alms as an example. It is not just a matter of going through the mechanics of dropping coins in the temple collection box. Giving alms is expected to come from inside, from a desire to share with the needy or to contribute to a good cause, like the upkeep of the temple, and it is this disposition of the heart that makes a person clean or unclean, as the gospel of Mark [7:15] reminds us.
We need to pray that, as we go through external observance of good norms, including during the celebration of the Eucharist, we do so with the proper disposition in our hearts, because it is this that yields fruit in our lives. (Rodriquez, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Acts of mercy are examples of almsgiving,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"What our Lord says, 'Give alms, and behold, all things are clean to you,' applies to all useful acts of mercy. It does not apply just to the one who gives food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothing to the naked, hospitality to the wayfarer or refuge to the fugitive. It also applies to one who visits the sick and the prisoner, redeems the captive, bears the burdens of the weak, leads the blind, comforts the sorrowful, heals the sick, shows the erring the right way, gives advice to the perplexed, and does whatever is needful for the needy. Not only does this person give alms, but the person who forgives the trespasser also gives alms as well. He is also a giver of alms who, by blows or other discipline, corrects and restrains those under his command. At the same time he forgives from the heart the sin by which he has been wronged or offended or prays that it be forgiven the offender. Such a person gives alms not only because he forgives and prays but also because he rebukes and administers corrective punishment, since in this he shows mercy... There are many kinds of alms. When we do them, we are helped in receiving forgiveness of our own sins." (excerpt from ENCHIRIDION 19.72) (Schwager, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the message of Paul to the Galatians. Paul proclaims that following Jewish Law for Gentiles is a form of slavery. Paul urges us to favour demonstration of faith by action. We are our faith as we put our trust in God’s Love. We live in the freedom of the Children of God. Pharisees wash before prayer and extend the practice even before eating in a Pharisee interpretation that consuming food is a form of prayer. Jesus proposes that they are too concerned with outer piety. Friar Jude suggests that excessive concern with outer piety can apply to Catholics' spiritual actions and judgement of people in worship. Friar Jude urges us to purify our hearts to see the goodness of God all around us.
The Word Among Us Meditation on Psalm 119:41, 43-45, 47-48 comments that when St. Paul says, “For freedom Christ set us free,” he is talking about that kind of freedom: the freedom to do something beautiful, the liberty to do what pleases the Lord (Galatians 5:1). God didn’t make us free so that we could ignore his commands; he knows they are what guide us to reach our full potential. They are what set us on the path of excellence. Excellence at what? Love of God and love of our neighbors.
Jesus delivers us from sin so that we can “walk at liberty” and become like him (Psalm 119:45). We are free to look out for someone else’s needs before our own. We are free to sacrifice on someone else’s behalf. The more this happens, the more like Jesus we become. It will look different for each one of us. A contemplative monk grows in loving in a different way than a young father does. A corporate executive conforms herself to Christ differently than someone living in a nursing home. But for each of us, true freedom comes as we receive the grace to live up to our potential.
Remember, loving isn’t accomplished in a single moment or gesture. It happens over time and with practice, just as every rehearsal enables the flute player to play even more beautifully.
“Father, thank you for setting me free to live in a way that pleases you!” (Meditation on Psalm 119:41, 43-45, 47-48, n.d.)
Feeling at Home
Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces researcher and storyteller Brené Brown who shares her sense of spiritual homesickness and tells of her soul’s regular longing for home.
Over the past two years, I’ve found that I’m more spiritually homesick than not. Spiritual homesickness has become an almost daily dulling grief. It’s not depression or exhaustion. It’s an uncomfortable knowing that I’m coming to the end of one thing and the beginning of the next. I’m leaving and arriving. There’s fear, but there’s also joyful anticipation.
Today, when I return home to the place in me where God dwells, I’m no longer interested in making it a quick visit so I can run back to the world of “what other people think” and “what I can get done.” Today, I can barely be dragged out of the house. I’m drawn to different conversations and deeper connections. I want this sacred space to be my home, not somewhere I visit to buttress my “real life” that’s on the outside of my connection with God. I’m starting to wonder if my alga, my pain, is fueled by my separation from God and from my True Self.…
Leaving the first half of life is scary. Most of us have the first-half-of-life hustle down. The thing is, I’m just never, ever homesick for the first half of my life when I walk away from it…. Maybe I’m not homesick for the first half of life because it’s really never been my true home. (Rohr, n.d.)
Reference:
Brené Brown, “Nostos and Alga: Returning Home in the Second Half of Life,” foreword to Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life, by Richard Rohr, rev. ed. (Jossey-Bass, 2024), vii, ix–x.
An AI Overview Franciscan priest Richard Rohr explores the concept of the two halves of life in his popular book, Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life. [1, 2]
We are offered guidance by the Spirit as we navigate the reality of the “Two Halves of Life” and our struggle with the transition from Building the Container in the first half to filling the "container" built in the first half with deeper meaning, self-honesty, and the True Self.
References
Galatians, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/5?
Luke, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/11?37
Meditation on Psalm 119:41, 43-45, 47-48. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/10/13/1692771/
Psalms, PSALM 119 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/119?
Rodriquez, L. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton On Line Ministries. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-october-13-2026
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Feeling at Home. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/feeling-at-home/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). What Makes the Heart Clean and Holy? Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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