Judgement, Justice, and Justification

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to ponder our commitment to justice based on our faith and its connection to our justification.

Justice for All

Galatians 3.6-14 proclaims that justification comes by faith in Christ and in his death.

* [3:1–14] Paul’s contention that justification comes not through the law or the works of the law but by faith in Christ and in his death (Gal 2:16, 21) is supported by appeals to Christian experience (Gal 3:1–5) and to scripture (Gal 3:6–14). The gift of God’s Spirit to the Galatians came from the gospel received in faith, not from doing what the law enjoins. The story of Abraham shows that faith in God brings righteousness (Gal 3:6; Gn 15:6). The promise to Abraham (Gal 3:8; Gn 12:3) extends to the Gentiles (Gal 3:14).

* [3:6] Abraham…righteousness: see Gn 15:6; Rom 4:3. The Galatians like Abraham heard with faith and experienced justification. This first argument forms the basis for the further scriptural evidence that follows.

* [3:7–9] Faith is what matters, for Abraham and the children of Abraham, in contrast to the claims of the opponents that circumcision and observance of the law are needed to bring the promised blessing of Gn 12:3; cf. Gn 18:18; Sir 44:21; Acts 3:25.

* [3:10–14] Those who depend not on promise and faith but on works of the law are under a curse because they do not persevere in doing all the things written in the book of the law (Gal 3:10; Dt 27:26) in order to gain life (Gal 3:12; Lv 18:5; cf. Rom 10:5). But scripture teaches that no one is justified before God by the law (Gal 3:11; Heb 2:4, adapted from the Greek version of Habakkuk; cf. Rom 1:17; Heb 10:38). Salvation, then, depends on faith in Christ who died on the cross (Gal 3:13), taking upon himself a curse found in Dt 21:23 (about executed criminals hanged in public view), to free us from the curse of the law (Gal 3:13). That the Gentile Galatians have received the promised Spirit (Gal 3:14) by faith and in no other way returns the argument to the experience cited in Gal 3:1–5. (Galatians, CHAPTER 3 |USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 111 proclaims how God is revealed in Israel’s history.

* [Psalm 111] A Temple singer (Ps 111:1) tells how God is revealed in Israel’s history (Ps 111:2–10). The deeds reveal God’s very self, powerful, merciful, faithful. The poem is an acrostic, each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

* [111:1] In the assembled congregation of the upright: in the Temple, cf. Ps 149:1.

* [111:5] Food to those who fear him: probably a reference to the manna in the desert, which elsewhere is seen as a type of the Eucharist, cf. Jn 6:31–33, 49–51. (Psalms, PSALM 111 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke, presents Jesus and Beelzebul and The Return of the Unclean Spirit.

* [11:19] Your own people: the Greek reads “your sons.” Other Jewish exorcists (see Acts 19:13–20), who recognize that the power of God is active in the exorcism, would themselves convict the accusers of Jesus. See also note on Mt 12:27.

* [11:22] One stronger: i.e., Jesus. Cf. Lk 3:16 where John the Baptist identifies Jesus as “mightier than I.” (Luke, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB, n.d.)

Eileen Wirth comments that we know from our own lived experiences that being in a family can be messy.

This complexity comes from deep love and intimacy. These people have known you for your entire life and have been witness to all the good and not so good phases of your life. And therein lies the beauty of family.

In today’s gospel we are being called to delve into this same love and intimacy with God. We are being reminded that we are a part of a larger family that has unconditional love flowing from the center. And even though life is messy, and complicated, and difficult to grasp at times there is a place you can go and be seen and loved in all your imperfections. 

The challenge for us is to accept this membership and our other family members for their warts and flaws. Let us pray today to embrace the love and grace that comes with being a member of God’s family. Let’s practice acceptance and understanding as we work to love ourselves and others. (Wirth, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Jesus has conquered Satan,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).

"[Jesus] has conquered the ruler of this world. Having, so to speak, hamstrung him and stripped him of the power he possessed, he has given him over for a prey to his followers. He says, 'The strong man, being armed, guards his house; all his goods are in peace. But when one who is stronger than he shall come on him and overcome him, he takes away all his armor wherein he trusted and divides his spoil.' This is a plain demonstration and type of the matter depicted after the manner of human affairs... Before the coming of the Savior, he was in great power, driving and shutting up in his own stall flocks that were not his own but belonging to God over all. He was like some voracious and most insolent robber. Since the Word of God who is above all, the Giver of all might and Lord of powers attacked him, having become man, all his goods have been plundered and his spoil divided. Those of old who had been ensnared by him into ungodliness and error have been called by the holy apostles to the acknowledgment of the truth and been brought near to God the Father by faith in his Son."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 81) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the texts for today. The missionaries to the Galatians were Jewish Christians who criticized Paul as being anti-Jewish. So in this letter Paul uses midrash technique drawing a verse from here and a verse from there to make his argument. The children of Abraham, a man of faith had only three children and so Paul indicates they are children by faith not biologically. In midrash style Paul then quotes from a totally different book that proclaims lJesus took our curse upon itself. A verse from here and a verse from there is a midrash characteristic. In the Gospel of Luke Jesus is accused of healing by the power of Beelzebul. The Baal of Zebul and the Lord of the files are the origin of this name for the Devil. Friar Jude comments that after an exorcism “a house divided” cannot stand so If liberated a person has to take care of a demon returning with his friends.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 11:15-26 comments that Jesus’ words reveal something so fundamental but so often overlooked: the kingdom of God is not hidden. It’s obvious! You can see it in people being set free from the devil’s harassment or from the grip of disease. In sins being forgiven and the burden of guilt and shame being lifted. In broken relationships being restored, fears being released, anxiety melting into peace. In other words, you may not be able to give a perfectly worded theological definition of the kingdom, but you certainly can recognize it when you see it.

These are just some indications that the kingdom has come to you—there are many more. If you see any of them, rejoice that the Lord has opened your eyes! Rejoice, too, that he is calling you to be a living sign of the kingdom to the people around you. May the light of the kingdom shine through you so that other people can see it and believe!

“Jesus, may your kingdom come—as you work through me!” (Meditation on Luke 11:15-26, 2026)

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, reflects on Cherokee descendant Randy Woodley author of “Planting for the Seventh Generation: What Is Ours to Do” who responds to Francis of Assisi’s deathbed invitation, “I have done what was mine to do. May Christ teach you what is yours”. An old Indian saying puts it more bluntly: The worst thing that can be said about a person is, “He acts like he has no relatives.”

Sound familiar? This is essentially the operating system of Western capitalism—the worldview that treats land as inventory, water as delivery system, people as labor units, and the sick as revenue streams. Take what you can, discard the rest, and never ask who’s downstream.

What my ancestors practiced was the opposite. They understood that humans are the younger siblings in creation—that the plants, animals, waters, and stones have been here longer and know how things work. Our job is not to dominate but to listen, learn, and contribute to the wellbeing of the whole. That’s not metaphor. That’s a survival strategy developed over thousands of years of living in reciprocal relationship with the land.

The mystics have always known that the separate self is an illusion—that we are woven into one another and into creation. That what we do to the least of these, we do to the Sacred. Indigenous peoples have been practicing that truth in daily life for millennia, not as theology to be debated but as a way of being to be lived. It goes by various names, but I call it the Harmony Way….

This is what contemplation should lead to—vulnerability. Not withdrawal from the world but deeper engagement with it. Not escape from suffering but the willingness to sit with it long enough to see clearly what is ours to do. Vulnerability requires living reflectively with yourself but also living deeply into the whole community of creation—all your relatives. Reference:

Randy S. Woodley, “Planting for the Seventh Generation: What Is Ours to Do” ONEING 14, What Is Ours to Do?” (CAC Publishing, 2026): 100–101, 102. (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the inspiration of the Spirit to sharpen our judgement and seek justice as taught by Jesus and practiced faithfully as we work to honour our Baptismal Anointing as priest, prophet, and leader.

References

Galatians, CHAPTER 3 |USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/3?7 

Luke, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/11? 

Meditation on Luke 11:15-26. (2026, October 8). The Word Among Us. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/10/08/1689572/ 

Psalms, PSALM 111 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/111?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Listen, Learn, and Contribute. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/listen-learn-and-contribute/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). If It Is by the Finger of God. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Wirth, E. (n.d.). Daily Reflections | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections 

Love and Lovality

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine our conscience for the criteria we use to actively participate in the care and healing of the people who come into our journey daily

Care on our Way

In the Reading from the Letter to the Galatians, Paul proclaims Loyalty to the Gospel in His Call by Christ.

* [1:6–10] In place of the usual thanksgiving (see note on Rom 1:8), Paul, with little to be thankful for in the Galatian situation, expresses amazement at the way his converts are deserting the gospel of Christ for a perverted message. He reasserts the one gospel he has preached (Gal 1:7–9) and begins to defend himself (Gal 1:10).

* [1:6] The one who called you: God or Christ, though in actuality Paul was the divine instrument to call the Galatians.

* [1:8] Accursed: in Greek, anathema; cf. Rom 9:3; 1 Cor 12:3; 16:22.

* [1:10] This charge by Paul’s opponents, that he sought to conciliate people with flattery and to curry favor with God, might refer to his mission practices (cf. 1 Cor 9:19–23) but the word still suggests it refers to his pre-Christian days (cf. Gal 1:14; Phil 3:6). The self-description slave of Christ is one Paul often uses in a greeting (Rom 1:1).

* [1:11–2:21] Paul’s presentation on behalf of his message and of his apostleship reflects rhetorical forms of his day: he first narrates the facts about certain past events (Gal 1:12–2:14) and then states his contention regarding justification by faith as the gospel message (Gal 2:15–21). Further arguments follow from both experience and scripture in Galatians 3; 4 before he draws out the ethical consequences (Gal 5:1–6:10). The specific facts that he takes up here to show that his gospel is not a human invention (Gal 1:11) but came through a revelation of Jesus Christ (Gal 1:12) deal with his own calling as a Christian missionary (Gal 1:13–17), his initial relations with the apostles in Jerusalem (Gal 1:18–24), a later journey to Jerusalem (Gal 2:1–10), and an incident in Antioch involving Cephas and persons from James (Gal 2:11–14). The content of Paul’s revealed gospel is then set forth in the heart of the letter (Gal 2:15–21).

* [1:12] Although Paul received his gospel through a revelation from Christ, this did not exclude his use of early Christian confessional formulations. See note on Gal 1:4. (Galatians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 111 proclaims how God is revealed in Israel’s history. 

* [Psalm 111] A Temple singer (Ps 111:1) tells how God is revealed in Israel’s history (Ps 111:2–10). The deeds reveal God’s very self, powerful, merciful, faithful. The poem is an acrostic, each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

* [111:1] In the assembled congregation of the upright: in the Temple, cf. Ps 149:1.

* [111:10] The fear of the LORD: reverence for God.(Psalms, PSALM 111 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus restates The Greatest Commandment and presents The Parable of the Good Samaritan

* [10:25–37] In response to a question from a Jewish legal expert about inheriting eternal life, Jesus illustrates the superiority of love over legalism through the story of the good Samaritan. The law of love proclaimed in the “Sermon on the Plain” (Lk 6:27–36) is exemplified by one whom the legal expert would have considered ritually impure (see Jn 4:9). Moreover, the identity of the “neighbor” requested by the legal expert (Lk 10:29) turns out to be a Samaritan, the enemy of the Jew (see note on Lk 9:52).

* [10:25] Scholar of the law: an expert in the Mosaic law, and probably a member of the group elsewhere identified as the scribes (Lk 5:21).

* [10:31–32] Priest…Levite: those religious representatives of Judaism who would have been expected to be models of “neighbor” to the victim pass him by. (Luke, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)

Saint Faustina Kowalska died of tuberculosis in Krakow, Poland, on October 5, 1938. Pope John Paul II beatified her in 1993, and canonized her seven years later.

Devotion to God’s Divine Mercy bears some resemblance to devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In both cases, sinners are encouraged not to despair, not to doubt God’s willingness to forgive them if they repent. As Psalm 136 says in each of its 26 verses, “God’s love [mercy] endures forever.” (Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, n.d.)

Cindy Murphy McMahon, like the Scholar of the law, asks Jesus the all-important question, “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus flips centuries of ill will between Jews and Samaritans in a flash. He asks the scholar who “was neighbor” to the traveler? He shows the scholar, and us, that “being neighbor” is an attitude, and that it is lived out through merciful, generous action.

Jesus also answers the unspoken question: What does this attitude, this “being neighbor” entail? The parable shows it means doing anything and everything within our power to meet someone’s – anyone’s – need.

Let us pray today that we allow the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to “be neighbor” whenever and wherever we see a need, whether it is a kind greeting, a listening ear, or a generous helping hand. And we ask the Spirit help us overcome temptations to ignore those in need or limit our actions to people within our comfort zones. (Murphy McMahon, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes God desires to be our neighbor, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"God our Lord wished to be called our neighbor. The Lord Jesus Christ meant that he was the one who gave help to the man lying half-dead on the road, beaten and left by the robbers. The prophet said in prayer, 'As a neighbor and as one's own brother, so did I please' (Psalm 34:14 ). Since the divine nature is far superior and above our human nature, the command by which we are to love God is distinct from our love of our neighbor. He shows mercy to us because of his own goodness, while we show mercy to one another because of God's goodness. He has compassion on us so that we may enjoy him completely, while we have compassion on another that we may completely enjoy him. (excerpt from CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTION 33) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winker comments on the texts for today. In Galatians, Paul writes a seemingly angry letter. The usual opening with a thanksgiving is missing. The people addressed live In central Turkey in an area settled by Celtic people. Paul had evangelized there and a later missionary from Jerusalem arrived exhorting them to follow Jewish Law. Paul reminds the Galatians about the Gospel of Christ and warns them to reject anyone who preaches another gospel. He asks if the message is to curry the favour of people or of God? Paul gave testimony that the message he teaches is directly from a revelation of Christ following an encounter on the road and spiritual visit in the seventh heaven. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus responds to the query of what Law to follow for internal life. Jesus cites the Great Commandment to love God with heart, soul, and strength, or in terms for today, intellect, while in persecution, and with our possessions. In other texts the need to love God with our mind or conscience appears. Love our neighbour as our self is the second part of the Commandment to Love. The dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho is the scene in the parable of the “Good Samaritan”. First a Levite then a priest ignores the person who had been assaulted by robbers perhaps out of fear or the religious practice of keeping purity. The one who helps is a Samaritan. Today perhaps the hero would be “the good Taliban.” The Samaritan is the true neighbour. Friar Jude reminds us that we all need to see the ones who need and continue acting on our mission to care for the needs of others in our life, family and including someone of another race or culture following the example of the “Good Samaritan”.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 10:25-37 comments that all around us, there are still many victims left in the ditch. They have been overpowered by dark forces like addiction, war, economic injustice—add to the list whatever “robbers” you can think of. They may appear “half-dead” until you try seeing them the way Jesus does: as wounded but not beyond help.

Who might they be? The stressed-out colleague who needs someone to ask, “Can I take something off your plate today?” The family member whose heart has been hardened by loneliness and who is carrying hurt that a simple phone call could soothe. The outsider who is treated with suspicion or simply ignored, for whom a smile or an offer of help could restore a sense of dignity.

In this parable, Jesus paints a picture of someone—a good Samaritan—whose priority is tending to the wounded. But it’s not just a touching story; it’s a challenge for you to “go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37). It all starts by asking the Lord to open your eyes so you can see hope and potential in a wounded, hurting world.

“Lord, give me eyes of love and a heart moved with compassion.” (Meditation on Luke 10:25-37, 2026)

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, considers how Christianity throughout history lost touch with the natural world as a place of grace and divine presence.

We grasped for meaning in merely mental ways when it was all around us in tangible and visible ways. We failed to kiss the ground on which we stood and preferred to fly off into the heavens. “The first level of perception,” according to Bonaventure, “is toward exterior material objects,” and only when we see respectfully and lovingly at that level can we “ascend” to his second and third levels of full spiritual seeing. [2] Francis knew and taught that “God does not lose energy by plunging into form,” as Cynthia Bourgeault so forcefully puts it [3], and that true transcendence is to be found in immanence and materiality itself. What a surprise!

Most of us were trained to be good Platonists, where body and soul are enemies, much more than Christian incarnationalists, where body and soul are friends. And where were we to experience this incarnation? Precisely everywhere and all the time, not just in places defined as sacred, special, churchy, or religious. That is why Paul could confidently tell us we could and should “pray always” (I Thessalonians 5:17). (Rohr, n.d.)

We invoke the Spirit to enlighten our perception of the needs of others and strengthen our will to be “Good Samaritans” who give time, talent, and treasure in Jesus' Way of care and compassion for all.

References

Galatians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/1? 

Luke, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10?25 

Meditation on Luke 10:25-37. (2026, October 5). The Word Among Us. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/10/04/1687059/ 

Murphy McMahon, C. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-october-5-2026 

Psalms, PSALM 111 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/111?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Rediscovering Our Connection to Nature. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/rediscovering-our-connection-to-nature/ 

Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska. (n.d.). Franciscan Media. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-maria-faustina-kowalska/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Go and Do Likewise. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/