Tenth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, was so glorious that the children of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of its glory that was going to fade, how much more will the ministry of the Spirit be glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, the ministry of righteousness will abound much more in glory. Indeed, what was endowed with glory has come to have no glory in this respect because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was going to fade was glorious, how much more will what endures be glorious.

Paul makes a clear distinction between the ministry of death, which came from the Ten Commandments, and the ministry of the Spirit. The Ten Commandments are mainly restrictions on our actions and focus on punishment for crimes against God, while the Golden Rule given by Jesus and enkindled in us through the Holy Spirit is life-giving. Paul isn’t saying the Ten Commandments should be ignored, but rather that their glory is surpassed by the Holy Spirit’s gifts. The Ten Commandments are good to follow, while the inspirations of the Holy Spirit are even more so.

Do we follow the glorious Ten Commandment’s? Do we follow the even more glorious inspirations of the Holy Spirit by knowing, loving, and serving God and His children to the best of our abilities? Are we putting the gifts of the Holy Spirit to good use?

O Lord, let your glorious Holy Spirit inspire and guide us to become better servants to you.

Amen.