Galatians 5:18-25 / Luke 11:42-46
The practice of religious beliefs is supposed to help human beings have a moral order in their lives and to strive for higher ideals in life.
Yet the practice of religion can at times deteriorate into a matter of convenience and that gives a warped understanding of the religious demands.
For example, a Catholic may think that by just coming for Mass on Sundays and saying grace before meals is all that is to being a Catholic.
Anything more is like reinforcing a place in heaven.
But that would make religion look so cheap and that being Catholic is like a private affair.
Jesus makes it very clear in the gospel that justice and the love of God are the essentials of being a Catholic.
The justice that we owe to others is that we have to help them lift the burdens of their lives by showing them the love of God.
As stated in the 1st reading, it is the Spirit who will direct us and lead us to understand the deeper aspects of our faith.
Then we will bear the fruits of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control.
May the Spirit be our life, so that we can show others how to live life.