Daily Readings - Sun Jul 13 2025

¹⁰but only if you will listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and keep his precepts and ceremonies, which have been written in this law, and only if you return to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul¹¹This commandment, which I entrust to you today, is not high above you, nor has it been placed far away¹²Nor is it in heaven, so that you would be able to say, ‘Which of us can ascend to heaven, so as to carry it back to us, and so that we may hear it and fulfill it in deed?¹³Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you would excuse yourself by saying, ‘Which of us is able to cross the sea, and to carry it back to us, so that we may be able to hear and to do what has been instructed?¹⁴Instead, the word is near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may do it

Colossians

Chapter 1

¹⁵He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature¹⁶For in him was created everything in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers. All things were created through him and in him¹⁷And he is before all, and in him all things continue¹⁸And he is the head of his body, the Church. He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, so that in all things he may hold primacy¹⁹For the Father is well-pleased that all fullness reside in him²⁰and that, through him, all things be reconciled to himself, making peace through the blood of his cross, for the things that are on earth, as well as the things that are in heaven

Luke

Chapter 10

²⁵And behold, a certain expert in the law rose up, testing him and saying, "Teacher, what must I do to possess eternal life?²⁶But he said to him: "What is written in the law? How do you read it?²⁷In response, he said: "You shall love the Lord your God from your whole heart, and from your whole soul, and from all your strength, and from all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.²⁸And he said to him: "You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.²⁹But since he wanted to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?³⁰Then Jesus, taking this up, said: "A certain man descended from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he happened upon robbers, who now also plundered him. And inflicting him with wounds, they went away, leaving him behind, half-alive³¹And it happened that a certain priest was descending along the same way. And seeing him, he passed by³²And similarly a Levite, when he was near the place, also saw him, and he passed by³³But a certain Samaritan, being on a journey, came near him. And seeing him, he was moved by mercy³⁴And approaching him, he bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. And setting him on his pack animal, he brought him to an inn, and he took care of him³⁵And the next day, he took out two denarii, and he gave them to the proprietor, and he said: ‘Take care of him. And whatever extra you will have spent, I will repay to you at my return.³⁶Which of these three, does it seem to you, was a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?³⁷Then he said, "The one who acted with mercy toward him." And Jesus said to him, "Go, and act similarly.

Sermon

In today's readings, we are reminded of the accessibility of God's commandments, the central role of Christ in creation and redemption, and the practical call to love our neighbors. The first reading from Deuteronomy emphasizes that God's word is not distant but resides in our hearts and mouths, making it achievable to follow. The second reading from Colossians highlights Jesus as the image of the invisible God, through whom all things were created and reconciled through His sacrifice. The Gospel, through the parable of the Good Samaritan, illustrates that loving our neighbor involves showing mercy to all, even those we might not normally associate with. These readings connect by emphasizing the centrality of Christ and the practical application of God's word. Deuteronomy's message of accessibility underscores that living according to God's will is within our reach. Colossians' focus on Christ as the source of all creation and reconciliation provides the theological foundation for understanding our role in the world. The Gospel then challenges us to live out this theology through active love and mercy, exemplified by the Good Samaritan who transcended societal divisions to help someone in need. In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to embrace the commandments with love and mercy. Just as the Good Samaritan went beyond expectations to care for a stranger, we are called to recognize our neighbors in those around us, especially those often overlooked. The moral lesson is clear: living according to God's word means actively demonstrating love and compassion, recognizing that Christ is the source of our ability to do so. Let us strive to embody this love, just as the Good Samaritan did, and in doing so, reflect the reconciling love of Christ in our world.