Daily Readings - Mon Oct 05 2020
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 are reminded of the importance of staying true to the Gospel and living out its teachings in our lives. The first reading from Galatians expresses Paul’s astonishment that the Galatians have so quickly turned away from the Gospel they first received. He emphasizes that there is only one true Gospel, revealed by God, and any other message is a distortion. Paul’s passion underscores the necessity of remaining faithful to the authentic teachings of Christ, which are rooted in God’s revelation, not human invention.
The Gospel from Luke presents us with the parable of the Good Samaritan, a powerful illustration of what it means to live the Gospel. When asked how to inherit eternal life, Jesus points to the law of love—loving God and neighbor. The parable challenges us to redefine who our neighbor is, not limited by cultural, religious, or social boundaries. The Samaritan, often seen as an outcast, becomes the true neighbor because he shows compassion and acts selflessly. This parable teaches us that being a neighbor is not about geography or affiliation but about mercy and love in action.
Together, these readings call us to fidelity and compassion. Paul warns against being swayed by false gospels, urging us to cling to the truth of Christ. The Good Samaritan reminds us that this truth must be lived out in tangible ways—through acts of kindness, mercy, and love for all people, regardless of their background. In our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Are we staying true to the Gospel? Are we living it out by being neighbors to those in need? May we, like the Good Samaritan, allow God’s love to flow through us, transforming the world one act of mercy at a time.