Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 10, 2022
First Reading: Deuteronomy 30.10-14
10when you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, when you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.11"For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off.12It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?'13Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?'14But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.
Psalm 69
1Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck.2I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.3I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.4More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore?5O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.6Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord GOD of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.7For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face.8I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's sons.9For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.10When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach.11When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.12I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me.13But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.14Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.15Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me.16Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.17Hide not your face from your servant; for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.18Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies!19You know my reproach, and my shame and my dishonor; my foes are all known to you.20Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.21They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.22Let their own table before them become a snare; and when they are at peace, let it become a trap.23Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see, and make their loins tremble continually.24Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your burning anger overtake them.25May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents.26For they persecute him whom you have struck down, and they recount the pain of those you have wounded.27Add to them punishment upon punishment; may they have no acquittal from you.28Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous.29But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high!30I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.31This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.32When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive.33For the LORD hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.34Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them.35For God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah, and people shall dwell there and possess it;36the offspring of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it.
Second Reading: Colossians 1.15-20
15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him.17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Gospel: Luke 10.25-37
25And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"26He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?"27And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."28And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live."29But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"30Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.31Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.32So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.33But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.34He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.35And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.'36Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?"37He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the essence of faith and how it translates into our actions. The first reading from Deuteronomy reminds us that God’s commandments are not distant or inaccessible but are near to us, in our hearts and mouths. This emphasizes the importance of internalizing our faith and living it out in our daily lives. The second reading from Colossians beautifully describes Christ as the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, and the reconciler of all things. This highlights Jesus’ central role in creation and redemption, reminding us that our faith is rooted in His divine love.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan, which challenges us to redefine who our neighbor is. The Samaritan, despite cultural and religious barriers, shows compassion to the wounded man, demonstrating that being a neighbor is not about proximity or similarity but about extending love and mercy to all. This parable underscores the call to move beyond our comfort zones and prejudices to serve others selflessly.
These readings are interconnected in their call to live out our faith actively. Deuteronomy encourages us to embrace God’s word in our hearts, Colossians reminds us of the universal love of Christ, and the parable of the Good Samaritan shows us how to put this love into practice. As we go about our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Who are the “Samaritans” in our midst? How can we show mercy and compassion to those we encounter? May we, like the Good Samaritan, allow God’s love to flow through us, transforming the world around us.