Daily Readings - Mon Oct 08 2018
Galatians
6I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:7Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.8But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.9As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.10For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.11But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.12For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Luke
25And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?26He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?27And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.28And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.29But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?30And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.31And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.32And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,34And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.35And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.36Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?37And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful messages that invite us to reflect on the integrity of our faith and the call to live out that faith in love and compassion. The first reading from Galatians finds St. Paul astonished that the community has so quickly turned away from the Gospel they first received. He emphasizes that the Gospel is not a human invention but a revelation from God, and he warns against any distortion of this truth, even if it comes from an angel or an apostle. Paul’s passion underscores the importance of remaining faithful to the authentic message of Christ, untainted by human opinions or worldly influences.
The Gospel from Luke presents us with the parable of the Good Samaritan, a timeless lesson on love and neighborliness. When a lawyer asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus turns the question back to the law and then expands its meaning through this parable. The Samaritan, often considered an outcast, becomes the true neighbor because he acts with mercy and compassion toward a stranger in need. This story challenges us to move beyond our biases and comfort zones to recognize that our neighbor is anyone we encounter, especially those who are suffering or marginalized.
Together, these readings remind us that our faith must be both authentic and active. St. Paul calls us to guard the integrity of the Gospel, while Jesus shows us that living the Gospel means putting love into action. In our daily lives, we are called to remain steadfast in our commitment to Christ’s teachings and to embody that commitment by serving others with kindness and generosity. Let us ask ourselves: Am I staying true to the Gospel? Am I seeing Christ in those around me, especially in those who may seem different or difficult to love? May we, like the Good Samaritan, allow God’s love to flow through us, transforming both our hearts and the world around us.