Daily Readings - Mon Oct 03 2022
Galatians
6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--7not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.9As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.10For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.11For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel.12For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Luke
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
The readings today remind us of the importance of staying true to the Gospel and living out its teachings in our lives. In the first reading from Galatians, St. Paul expresses his astonishment that the community is so quickly turning away from the Gospel they first received. He emphasizes that the Gospel he preached is not of human origin but comes from God, revealed to him through Jesus Christ. Paul’s words are a strong reminder that our faith must be rooted in the truth of God’s Word, not in the changing ideas or pressures of the world. He warns that even if an angel were to preach a different gospel, it would not be worthy of belief. This reading calls us to fidelity to the Gospel and to discernment in identifying false teachings that may lead us astray.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the essence of love and neighborliness through the parable of the Good Samaritan. When asked how to inherit eternal life, Jesus affirms the commandment to love God and neighbor. But when pressed to define who a neighbor is, Jesus challenges conventional thinking by telling the story of a Samaritan who shows compassion to a stranger in need, while others pass by. The Samaritan’s actions demonstrate that being a neighbor is not about proximity or familiarity but about showing mercy and kindness to all, regardless of differences. This parable invites us to reflect on how we treat others, especially those we might otherwise ignore or exclude.
Together, these readings call us to live out our faith with integrity and compassion. St. Paul urges us to remain steadfast in the Gospel, while Jesus shows us that living the Gospel means loving and serving others without reserve. In our daily lives, this means staying grounded in the teachings of Christ and allowing His love to flow through us in tangible ways. Let us ask ourselves: Are we faithful to the Gospel in our words and actions? Do we see Christ in our neighbors, especially those who may seem different or inconvenient? May we, like the Good Samaritan, be moved by mercy and go out of our way to care for others, reflecting the love of God in all we do.