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In today's Gospel, Jesus condemns both the Scribes and the Pharisees because they love honor and legalism more than helping others. In the first reading St. Paul tells us that we should look at the fruits of our actions to know if they are in line with the Spirit: are our actions full of love, joy, and patience, helping others live better lives?

In the Gospel today, Jesus challenges the Pharisees to see beyond themselves, helping others by giving to the poor rather than worrying about being seen as adhering to externals such as following the letter of the law. Then they will be right with God. This is an ongoing challenge to you and me, that today we might give alms and be made more as God would have us be.

Jesus asked his disciples to follow him and learn to be like him. We do not have to be perfect disciples when we start, we simply need to keep learning from the one teacher, Jesus, and to lead others to follow him as well.

Jesus told his disciples that they must love their enemies, just as God is kind even to the wicked. This is no easy thing for us, but we can start by recognising that we are already loved, and thus can reflect that love to others. Then, we can practice by loving others with an open hand, or in secret expecting nothing in return.

On this Feast of St. Lawrence, Fr. Jordan relates that the Gospel passage chosen for Lawrence is the same one he used for his solemn vows when he gave his life to the Order of Preachers. Is there a scripture passage that describes your life's work?

Based on John 12:24:

Jesus said, "Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."

Jesus tells us, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." In this, Jesus sets us free from all of the goods of this life, so that we might get something better—eternity with him in the life to come.

Under attack from the Pharisees, Jesus appropriated the words of the prophet Isaiah as his own, "He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smouldering wick until he brings justice to victory." Jesus fights for us, but he does so fearlessly but tenderly, and would never crush or harm us. We should love others as he loves us.

Jesus defends his disciples picking grain on the sabbath not because he has no care for the law, but because he is the new place of encounter with God, and by being with him, his disciples are fulfilling the command for resting on the sabbath. How can we draw nearer to God today?

Jesus told his disciples to practice prayer, fasting, and almsgiving not so that others might see, but with sincerity, knowing that God will see these righteous deeds. These are the basic actions of every Christian disciple, all of which direct us back into right relationship with God.

Jesus said to love our enemies. We do that not because they deserve it, but as a response to the love of God already poured out on us in our own lives. We show our thanks for God's unconditional love in the way we live, by loving others unconditionally.

The Book of Acts records how God led Paul from Jerusalem to Rome so that the Gospel could spread. Our faith should keep us on a journey as well, so we always need to be asking, "Where is God calling me to now?"

The Apostle Paul warns to be watchful because there will come wolves to devour the sheep, while in the Gospel, Jesus asks God to consecrate his disciples in the truth, as he has been consecrated. Are there areas in your life that you need to be reminded that you have been consecrated to be a part of God's plan?