October 10 Mon Weekday Gal 4:22-24, 26-27, 31—5:1/Lk 11:29-32 

11 Tue Weekday [Saint John XXIII, Pope] Gal 5:1-6/Lk 11:37-41 

12 Wed Weekday Gal 5:18-25/Lk 11:42-46 

13 Thu Weekday Eph 1:1-10/Lk 11:47-54 

14 Fri Weekday [St Callistus I, Pope and Martyr]Eph 1:11-14/Lk 12:1-7 

15 Sat St Teresa of Jesus, Virgin Doctor Memorial

Eph 1:15-23/Lk 12:8-12 

16 SUN TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Ex 17:8-13/2 Tm 3:14—4:2/Lk 18:1-8 

We end our reading from the Letter to the Galatians on Wednesday, and begin reading for two weeks from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. The readings from Luke’s gospel this week, condemning the Pharisees, are closely connected to Paul’s Galatian letter. 

Paul opposes in his letter Jewish-Christian attempts to convert the Galatians to Jewish practices, particularly circumcision. Luke is not unaware of that situation writing his gospel. Jesus praises the people of Nineveh who, unlike the people “of this generation” accepted the teaching of Jonah, Luke notes. Does Paul share in the mission of Jonah?

Jesus ate with the Pharisees in their homes, Luke also notes, but he bluntly criticized them there.  Is this a subtle criticism of Jewish Christians imposing Jewish practices on gentile converts? By becoming more identified with Judaism, did they think Christians would more likely gain respect and exemptions from Roman law?

We may not be aware of the connection that exists in our weekday readings.

Saint John XXIII, the Father of the Second Vatican Council is remembered October 11. Callistus, a slave who became an early pope is October 14’s saint. St. Theresa of Avila, one of the women doctors of the church, is remembered October 15.