Wednesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time

• First Reading – Galatians 5:18-25: If you’re guided by the Spirit, you’re not subject to the law. Works of the flesh lead away from God’s Kingdom, while the Spirit’s fruits bring you closer. Live and follow the Spirit.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 1: The man who avoids wickedness and delights in God’s law is blessed. He’s like a flourishing tree, while the wicked are like wind-blown chaff. God watches over the just.
• Gospel – Luke 11:42-46: The Lord criticizes Pharisees for neglecting justice and love while focusing on minor rituals. They seek social honors but ignore true virtues. Scholars of the law also receive rebuke for burdening others without helping.

You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.

Luke 11:46

On Wednesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, the readings from Galatians 5:18-25 and Luke 11:42-46 focus on the contrast between living by the Spirit and living by the flesh. Jesus also challenges the Pharisees for focusing on external rituals while neglecting justice and love.

Here are six themes for this day:

• Living by the Spirit: Paul urges believers to follow the Spirit, not the desires of the flesh. Living by the Spirit leads to love, joy, and peace, which contrasts with selfishness and sin.
• Fruits of the Spirit: Paul lists qualities like kindness, patience, and self-control. These fruits show the effects of following the Spirit and help Christians grow in faith.
• Warning Against Hypocrisy: Jesus warns the Pharisees against focusing only on outward religious practices. He criticizes them for neglecting justice and love of God, calling for an authentic faith.
• Love and Justice: Jesus emphasizes that love and justice are central to living a faithful life. He criticizes religious leaders for ignoring these while pretending to be holy.
• Humility in Faith: Jesus calls out the Pharisees for their pride in religious titles and honors. True faith is humble and serves others, not seeking recognition.
• Avoiding Legalism: Paul and Jesus both challenge the idea of rigidly following rules without understanding the heart of the law. They teach that the Spirit gives life and freedom, while legalism can lead to spiritual blindness.

The readings from this day remind us to live by the Spirit and not just follow rules. We are called to seek justice, love, and true humility in our faith journey.

On Wednesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, the readings invite us to reflect on the deeper meaning of living our faith. Paul encourages us to be guided by the Spirit, while Jesus warns against hypocrisy and emphasizes justice. These themes call us to examine our hearts and actions, making sure that our faith is authentic and expressed through love and fairness.

Guided by the Spirit

In Wednesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, the first reading from Galatians reminds us of the importance of living by the Spirit. Paul explains that when we follow the Spirit, we turn away from selfish desires and focus on things like love, patience, and kindness. These qualities help us grow closer to God and live in peace with others.

Living by the Spirit means making choices based on what is right, not just what we want. It means putting the needs of others before our own desires. This can be challenging, but the Spirit helps us to show love and kindness in all situations, even when it’s hard.

The Gospel also shows the danger of living for outward appearances instead of following the Spirit. Jesus calls out the Pharisees for focusing too much on following rules while neglecting justice and love. Like the Pharisees, we can sometimes get caught up in doing the “right” things outwardly, but real faith comes from allowing the Spirit to guide us from the inside.

Justice and Fairness in Faith

On Wednesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, justice plays an important role in both the first reading and the Gospel. Justice means caring about what is right and fair, not just for ourselves but for everyone. Paul encourages us to live by the Spirit, and this includes seeking justice for others. The Spirit leads us to do what is right, even when it’s difficult.

Jesus speaks about justice in the Gospel when he criticizes the Pharisees. They were more concerned with appearances than doing what is fair and just. Jesus calls out this kind of hypocrisy because true faith demands that we care for others and stand up for justice, especially for those who are vulnerable.

Justice isn’t just about following the law. It’s about doing what is right in the eyes of God. In our own lives, we are called to seek justice by helping those in need, being honest in our dealings, and standing up for fairness. Living justly is a key part of following Jesus and being guided by the Spirit.

Avoiding Hypocrisy

Another key theme in Wednesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 is the need to avoid hypocrisy in our faith. Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for focusing too much on religious rules and missing the heart of God’s message. They looked good on the outside but were not living with love and sincerity.

Hypocrisy can also be a temptation for us. It’s easy to go through the motions of religion without letting it change our hearts. We may follow rules and attend Mass, but if we ignore justice, love, and humility, we are not truly living our faith.

Paul encourages us to avoid this by living by the Spirit. When we are guided by the Spirit, we don’t just look good on the outside; we live with true love and compassion for others. Avoiding hypocrisy means letting our faith show in how we treat others and how we live each day.

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The reflections for Wednesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 remind us that true faith is more than just following rules. It’s about living by the Spirit, seeking justice, and avoiding the trap of hypocrisy. By reflecting on these readings, we are encouraged to live with love, sincerity, and a desire to do what is right.

Prayer

Lord, help us to live by your Spirit each day. Give us the grace to seek justice, to love sincerely, and to avoid hypocrisy in our actions. May our hearts be open to your guidance, and may we follow your will in all that we do. Amen.

Reflection Questions

• How can you better allow the Spirit to guide your actions in daily life?
• What are some ways you can seek justice for others in your community?
• Are there areas in your faith where you may be acting outwardly but not sincerely?
• How can you show more kindness and love in your relationships with others?

Word On Fire: Sharing Burdens in Faith

In this reflection for Wednesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time, Bishop Robert Barron focuses on Jesus’ critique of scholars of the law who impose difficult burdens on people without helping to ease those burdens. Bishop Barron notes that the essence of Jesus’ teaching is the importance of sharing others’ burdens, particularly in the moral and spiritual realms. This idea encourages self-reflection on moments when one felt healed or accepted by Christ through the Church, highlighting the importance of community and support in the Christian life.

USCCB Reflection: The Call to Kindness and Understanding

This USCCB video reflection for Wednesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time focuses on the message of not judging others and instead living as “missionary disciples” of Jesus. The idea is to lead a life full of kindness, mercy, and charity, as inspired by the teachings of Jesus. The speech also references Pope Francis, who encourages everyone to live a Christian life in this manner. The goal is to share God’s love and be kind, even to those we might want to judge. It asks people to be better in how they think, act, and judge others.

What date is Wednesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?

The next date is Wednesday October 14, 2026.

Cycle 1 is used in odd numbered years and Cycle 2 is used in even numbered years. The gospel is the same for both years. For odd numbered years see Wednesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1.

What are the Mass readings for Wednesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?

The Mass readings for Wednesday October 14, 2026 are:
First Reading – Galatians 5:18-25: Guided by the Spirit
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 1: Blessed and Wicked
Gospel – Luke 11:42-46: Woes to Pharisees

What does it mean to live by the Spirit in Wednesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?

Living by the Spirit means letting God’s Spirit guide our actions and choices. It means practicing love, kindness, and self-control instead of selfishness or sin.

What are the fruits of the Spirit mentioned?

The fruits of the Spirit are qualities like love, joy, peace, and patience. These show that we are living according to the Spirit and not just following rules.

What does Paul mean by avoiding the desires of the flesh?

Paul is warning us not to give in to selfishness or harmful desires. Instead, we should follow the Spirit and grow in love and goodness.

Why does Jesus criticize the Pharisees in Wednesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?

Jesus criticizes the Pharisees because they focus on following religious rules but forget justice and love. He wants them to focus on what is important—helping others and loving God.

How can we avoid being like the Pharisees?

We can avoid being like the Pharisees by not just following religious rituals but also caring for others and seeking justice. Jesus teaches us to live with love and humility, not pride.

Why is justice so important?

Justice is important because it shows we care about what is right and fair. Jesus teaches that justice should not be forgotten in our lives of faith.

What does humility mean?

Humility means not seeking attention or praise for being religious. Jesus calls us to serve others and not be proud of our religious titles or actions.

How do we apply the message of Wednesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 to our daily lives?

We can apply the message by trying to live by the Spirit in our daily choices. This means acting with love, kindness, and fairness toward others.

How does Wednesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 challenge us to live better?

It challenges us to focus on what truly matters—justice, love, and humility. It reminds us to live by the Spirit, not just follow rules.