DAILY READINGS

*DAILY MASS READINGS

Tuesday 13 October 2026

Tuesday of week 28 in Ordinary Time

Liturgical Colour: Green. Year: A(II)

Readings at Mass

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First reading
Galatians 5:1-6

It is faith, not the Law, that justifies us

When Christ freed us, he meant us to remain free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. It is I, Paul, who tell you this: if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all. With all solemnity I repeat my warning: Everyone who accepts circumcision is obliged to keep the whole Law. But if you do look to the Law to make you justified, then you have separated yourselves from Christ, and have fallen from grace. Christians are told by the Spirit to look to faith for those rewards that righteousness hopes for, since in Christ Jesus whether you are circumcised or not makes no difference – what matters is faith that makes its power felt through love.

Commentary

*This passage really begins Paul’s final exhortation, in which he repeats points already made. It seems a though some of the intended recipients are wanting to have their cake and eat it, to put their faith in Christ but at the same time accept circumcision. There is, however, a sharp dichotomy between them, to the extent that acceptance of circumcision constitutes a statement that Christ is irrelevant. So Paul repeats that salvation comes through faith in Christ, with the essential addition ‘working through love’. We cannot earn salvation; all we can do is hope for it, but nevertheless, our faith works and is expressed through love*

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*Responsorial Psalm*

*Psalm 118(119):41,43-45,47-48*

Lord, let your love come upon me.

Lord, let your love come upon me,
the saving help of your promise.
Do not take the word of truth from my mouth
for I trust in your decrees.

Lord, let your love come upon me.

I shall always keep your law
for ever and ever.
I shall walk in the path of freedom
for I seek your precepts.

Lord, let your love come upon me.

Your commands have been my delight;
these I have loved.
I will worship your commands and love them
and ponder your statutes.

Lord, let your love come upon me.

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*Gospel Acclamation*
*Ps118:135*

Alleluia, alleluia!
Let your face shine on your servant,
and teach me your decrees.
Alleluia!

Or:
Heb4:12

Alleluia, alleluia!
The word of God is something alive and active:
it can judge secret emotions and thoughts.
Alleluia!

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*Gospel*
*Luke 11:37-41*

Give thanks for what you have and it will all be clean

Jesus had just finished speaking when a Pharisee invited him to dine at his house. He went in and sat down at the table. The Pharisee saw this and was surprised that he had not first washed before the meal. But the Lord said to him, ‘Oh, you Pharisees! You clean the outside of cup and plate, while inside yourselves you are filled with extortion and wickedness. Fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside too? Instead, give alms from what you have and then indeed everything will be clean for you.’

*Commentary*

*Matthew gives seven ‘Woes!’ against the Pharisees, Luke only three (11.42, 43, 44), followed by three more against the lawyers (11.46, 47, 52). He uses much the same material as Matthew, drawn from their shared source. In a religion which insists that generosity of heart must be expressed in action there is always a danger that the action will be offered without the generosity it is supposed to express. In this case the Pharisee pays more attention to the fact that Jesus did not wash his hands than to his basic goodness. But the final verse of this reading is Luke’s own, and typical of his concern to warn of the dangers of wealth and possessions. Such warnings come again and again in Luke’s Gospel (6.24; 12.33), notably in the parable of the Rich Fool (12.16-21) and the excuses given by guests who refuse to come to the great banquet (14.18-19). It is the poor and disadvantaged who respond to God’s initiative, from the Infancy Stories onwards (2.8)*
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