Daily Readings - Mon Oct 03 2022
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
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.