Daily Readings - Mon Oct 03 2022
Galatians
6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--7which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!9As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!10Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.11I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up.12I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
Luke
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
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.