MONDAY OF THE TWENTY-SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, OCTOBER 3, 2022

MASS READINGS

A reading of the holy Gospel according to LK 10:25-37

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

REFLECTION

“Go and do likewise.”

How do we apply God's great commandment of love in our everyday life?

How do we know we are fulfilling this commandment?

We are to treat our neighbor as ourselves. And again, who is our neighbor?

God's love extends to every human being. Our love includes not just literally our family, our next door neighbor, kindred spirit, our best friend, or someone we know, but towards every human being.

We are to show compassion and mercy to all.

PONDER

What keeps us from helping one another? Are we too judgmental, lack the ability to walk in someone's shoes or too pious to stop and help someone who is different from us? Are we too fearful to do good?

PRAYER

Pray that we help all who need help, whether their actions got them into the mess they are in or not. Pray that we help in practical ways that are suited for their situation. May our love be all inclusive and may it be unconditional as long as we follow God's commandments.

God Bless You