St. Teresa of Avila, virgin & doctor 

*** 1st Reading ***

Romans 1: 16-25

For I am not ashamed at all of this Good News;

it is God’s power saving those who believe, first the Jews, and then the Greeks.  This Good News shows us the saving justice of God; a justice that saves exclusively by faith, as the Scripture says: The upright one shall live by faith.

For the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and injustice of those who have silenced the truth by their wicked ways.   For everything that could have been known about God was clear to them: God himself made it plain.

 Because his invisible attributes—his everlasting power and divinity—are made visible to reason by means of his works since the creation of the world.So they have no excuse,   for they knew God and did not glorify him as was fitting, nor did they give thanks to him.

On the contrary, they lost themselves in their reasoning and darkness filled their minds. Believing themselves wise, they became foolish:   they exchanged the Glory of the immortal God for the likes of mortal human beings, birds, animals and reptiles.   

Because of this God gave them up to their inner cravings; they did shame­ful things and dishonored their bodies. They exchanged God’s truth for a lie; they honored and worshiped created things instead of the Creator, to whom be praise for ever, Amen!

 

Ps 19  The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

 

**** Gospel ****

Luke 11: 37-41

 As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to have a meal with him. So he went and sat at table.   The Pharisee then wondered why Jesus did not first wash his hands before dinner.  

 But the Lord said to him, “So then, you Pharisees, you clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside yourselves you are full of greed and evil.  Fools! He who made the outside, also made the inside.  But according to you, by the mere giving of alms everything is made clean.

 

 

Reflection gospel:

“HE WHO MADE THE OUTSIDE, ALSO MADE THE INSIDE.”

Especially during my high school years, I used to scold my younger siblings. And I must admit that there were times that I hit them too. I was the eldest and thought it was my responsibility to discipline them. I was not brutal though and I am sure my disciplinary measures were not excessive.

But I cannot forget one occasion when after scolding one of my sisters she said, “you don’t love me.”Love is a heavy word. Many people would imagine that what constitutes it are all positive attributes and good vibes; anything negative or adverse cannot be love.

Well, this is not love. While love appreciates, it does not tolerate. Love desires the best and will therefore correct and admonish when needed. Reprimands and punishments can also be expressions of love. Every act aimed at making people realize the bad and the wrong are expressions of love.

So, did I not love my sister? I did, and I still do. but my love for her cannot allow that she grows without discipline.The love of God for us is pretty much the same. It demands perfection (cf. Mt 5:48) so that when we wander from time to time, we need scolding and discipline.