Daily Mass Readings Reflection October 15, 2025

DAILY ROMAN CATHOLIC READINGS AND SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS Wednesday, 15th October 2025 ------------------------------------------------ WEDNESDAY, TWENTY EIGHTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Memorial of Saint Teresa of Avila Rom 2: 1-11 Ps 62: 2-3, 6-7, 9 Lk 11: 42-46 ------------------------------------------------ WITNESSES OF LOVE Today we celebrate the feast of St Teresa of Avila, mystic, and Doctor of the Church. She loved God deeply and taught others to come closer to Him through prayer. Real holiness, she believed, existed in a heart full of love! In today’s Gospel, Jesus uses strong words: “Woe to you.” He is speaking to the Pharisees and teachers of the law. They were very good at following rules and traditions, but they forgot the most important part of religion that is love. Jesus says, “You tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God” (Lk 11:42). They made religion difficult for the people by creating many meticulous laws and rules. These rules became heavy burdens, and the people were led away from God, instead of being drawn towards Him. True religion should bring people closer to God, not push them away. Jesus teaches us that the heart of God’s law is love: love for God and love for our neighbour. St Teresa of Avila lived this truth. She once said, “It is love alone that gives value to all things.” She taught her sisters that prayer is not just saying words but speaking to God as a friend. Teresa of Avila worked to reform the Carmelite order and bring back a life of prayer, simplicity and love. Even in her struggles, she remained firm because of her trust in God. Like the Pharisees in the Gospel, we too could be proud, judgmental, or focused only on external things. When we act with anger, jealousy, hatred, or impurity, we move away from true religion. Jesus reminds us today to return to love, mercy, and justice. Pope Paul VI once said, “What the world needs now are witnesses.” St Teresa was a witness. She showed through her life what it means to follow Jesus. Let us pray today that we may follow the example of St Teresa of Avila to live with love, to pray with trust, and to guide others gently towards God. May our faith be real, joyful, and full of love. Response: O Lord, you repay each man according to his deeds.