15TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Luke 10:25-37) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“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.” (Lc 10:25)

FIRST READING - 30:10-14

A reading from the Book of Deuteronomy

Moses said to the people:

"If only you would heed the voice of the LORD, your God,

and keep his commandments and statutes

that are written in this book of the law,

when you return to the LORD, your God,

with all your heart and all your soul.

"For this command that I enjoin on you today

is not too mysterious and remote for you.

It is not up in the sky, that you should say,

'Who will go up in the sky to get it for us

and tell us of it, that we may carry it out?'

Nor is it across the sea, that you should say,

'Who will cross the sea to get it for us

and tell us of it, that we may carry it out?'

No, it is something very near to you,

already in your mouths and in your hearts;

you have only to carry it out."

SECOND READING from the Letter to the Colossians - 1:15-20

Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn of all creation.

For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,

the visible and the invisible,

whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;

all things were created through him and for him.

He is before all things,

and in him all things hold together.

He is the head of the body, the church.

He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,

that in all things he himself might be preeminent.

For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,

and through him to reconcile all things for him,

making peace by the blood of his cross

through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - 10:25-37

From the Gospel according to Luke

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."

15TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Luke 10:25-37)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Today’s Word of God speaks about Jesus Christ as the perfect example of love for everyone to follow, through the image of the Good Samaritan helping the victim of robbers on the road.

Only God possesses a great and immense love—no one else has a love as great as His. That is why He always invites everyone to live according to His teachings: "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 knows that human beings are fragile and weak. Yet, He does not condemn people when they commit sins that displease Him; instead, He invites them to live in love for God through loyalty and faithfulness to the vows they have made before God the Father.

The images of priests and Levites are that of shepherds chosen by God to continue His work. They are invited to lead by example, guiding the flock that God has entrusted to them. But have they set a good example for the flock? Even today, have bishops and priests remained faithful to their vows before God? Do they live with love and sacrifice each day, striving to follow the commandments of God the Father?

Today’s Word of God presents the image of the Good Samaritan helping the wounded man—an example worthy for God’s shepherds to follow. They are called to love God and to love others with hearts full of His mercy and kindness, not with superficial love. God invites His shepherds to express their love through action: to seek out the lost sheep, to bandage the wounds of those who are injured, dry, or cold—even those being attacked by robbers, that is, fierce wolves trying to steal their souls.

He called on His shepherds to go out, to know how to pause in order to save others, and to show the loving actions of Jesus Christ toward all humanity—just like the Good Samaritan, who stopped to bandage the wounds of the injured man lying on the road. He reminded the disciples not to follow the poor example of the priest and the Levite, but to act according to the example of the Good Samaritan. In this way, the good shepherds of God will follow the path and commandments of God the Father. And when they live by those commandments, they will receive eternal life.

Otherwise, shepherds will be held accountable for the salvation of souls—because when God the Father gives them the mission of being shepherds, He will expect more from them than from those who have not received that grace.

Therefore, through today’s Gospel, God calls His good shepherds—those He has chosen to be intermediaries through whom He bestows His blessings upon His flock—to:

• Be alert and fully aware of their responsibility as shepherds of the sheep, which is to save sinful souls. Live up to the role of a good shepherd by leading the flock, going before them, and guarding them at all times and in all places, to protect them from being torn apart by the fierce wolf, Satan.

• Remain faithful to God's call and obey Him in all circumstances.

• Live in a way that is pleasing to God the Father, in order to lead more sheep to Him.

• Love and care for the sheep God has entrusted to you, so that when you stand before His judgment seat, you will have an offering—the fruit of saved souls—to present to God the Father. You will either be rewarded with Heaven, undergo purification in Purgatory, or be condemned to eternal hell, depending on the offering you bring before God.

Thanks be to God. Amen.