Daily Readings - Sun Jul 13 2025

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.

Colossians

Chapter 1

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.

Luke

Chapter 10

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 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.