Daily Readings - Sun Jul 10 2022

¹⁰if you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. The Offer of Life or Death¹¹Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.¹²It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?"¹³Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?"¹⁴No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

Colossians

Chapter 1

¹⁵He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.¹⁶For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.¹⁷He 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 and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.¹⁹For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,²⁰and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Luke

Chapter 10

²⁵On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"²⁶"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"²⁷He answered: "'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, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"²⁸"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."²⁹But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"³⁰In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.³¹A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.³²So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.³³But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.³⁴He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.³⁵The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'³⁶"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"³⁷The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the essence of faith and how it translates into our actions. The first reading from Deuteronomy reminds us that God’s commandments are not distant or inaccessible but are near to us, in our hearts and mouths. This emphasizes the importance of internalizing our faith and living it out in our daily lives. The second reading from Colossians beautifully describes Christ as the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, and the reconciler of all things. This highlights Jesus’ central role in creation and redemption, reminding us that our faith is rooted in His divine love. In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan, which challenges us to redefine who our neighbor is. The Samaritan, despite cultural and religious barriers, shows compassion to the wounded man, demonstrating that being a neighbor is not about proximity or similarity but about extending love and mercy to all. This parable underscores the call to move beyond our comfort zones and prejudices to serve others selflessly. These readings are interconnected in their call to live out our faith actively. Deuteronomy encourages us to embrace God’s word in our hearts, Colossians reminds us of the universal love of Christ, and the parable of the Good Samaritan shows us how to put this love into practice. As we go about our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Who are the “Samaritans” in our midst? How can we show mercy and compassion to those we encounter? May we, like the Good Samaritan, allow God’s love to flow through us, transforming the world around us.