Readings for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Dt 30:10-14
This section of the book of Deuteronomy is part of Moses’ last discourse. In this passage he is referring to Mosaic Law which has been chronicled earlier in the book. The gist of his challenge to the people is that the Law, which in turn is an integral part of fulfilling the covenant with God, also established earlier in the book, is not difficult to keep. It is in most cases something they are already doing (“…already in your mouths and in your hearts”)
Responsorial Psalm Ps 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37
R. Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.
Psalm 69 is a lament. In this passage the song asks God for help in dire straights and expresses trust that the prayer will be answered.
Or Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Psalm 19 is a hymn rejoicing in God’s creation. In this passage we find a strong link to the first reading from Deuteronomy as the poem praises the Law handed down through Moses.
Reading II Col 1:15-20
The footnote from the NAB does a nice job of placing this selection within the context of today’s celebration: “As the poetic arrangement indicates, these lines are probably an early Christian hymn, known to the Colossians and taken up into the letter from liturgical use (cf Philippians 2:6-11; 1 Tim 3:16). They present Christ as the mediator of creation (Col 1:15-18a) and of redemption (Col 1:18b-20). There is a parallelism between firstborn of all creation (Col 1:15) and firstborn from the dead (Col 1:18).”
Gospel Lk 10:25-37
In this passage from St. Luke’s Gospel, we find Jesus being challenged by a person referred to as a “scholar”. It seems clear that this man has a good idea of how Jesus is likely to respond to his initial question about what he must do to inherit eternal life. As soon as the man tells Jesus what the law says, the scholar asks for still more clarification asking “And who is my neighbor?”
The illustration Jesus uses in answering him does clarify the answer and at the same time uses a cultural tension to heighten the lesson. First he says a Priest of the Jewish Temple passes the victim of robbery by, one who is most scrupulous in observing the letter of the Law, next a member of the priestly class, a Levite does the same. The one who helps the victim, presumably a Jew, is a member of the Samaritan culture, antagonists of the Jewish people. In this way the Lord provides a moral lesson along with an explanation of the Law.
Reflection:
For the past week in the daily Mass readings we have been hit time and again with the notion that we are called to be disciples and we are sent into the world to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God. Today we are given an outstanding example of how we are to accomplish that mission.
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Dt 30:10-14
This section of the book of Deuteronomy is part of Moses’ last discourse. In this passage he is referring to Mosaic Law which has been chronicled earlier in the book. The gist of his challenge to the people is that the Law, which in turn is an integral part of fulfilling the covenant with God, also established earlier in the book, is not difficult to keep. It is in most cases something they are already doing (“…already in your mouths and in your hearts”)
Responsorial Psalm Ps 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37
R. Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.
Psalm 69 is a lament. In this passage the song asks God for help in dire straights and expresses trust that the prayer will be answered.
Or Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Psalm 19 is a hymn rejoicing in God’s creation. In this passage we find a strong link to the first reading from Deuteronomy as the poem praises the Law handed down through Moses.
Reading II Col 1:15-20
The footnote from the NAB does a nice job of placing this selection within the context of today’s celebration: “As the poetic arrangement indicates, these lines are probably an early Christian hymn, known to the Colossians and taken up into the letter from liturgical use (cf Philippians 2:6-11; 1 Tim 3:16). They present Christ as the mediator of creation (Col 1:15-18a) and of redemption (Col 1:18b-20). There is a parallelism between firstborn of all creation (Col 1:15) and firstborn from the dead (Col 1:18).”
Gospel Lk 10:25-37
In this passage from St. Luke’s Gospel, we find Jesus being challenged by a person referred to as a “scholar”. It seems clear that this man has a good idea of how Jesus is likely to respond to his initial question about what he must do to inherit eternal life. As soon as the man tells Jesus what the law says, the scholar asks for still more clarification asking “And who is my neighbor?”
The illustration Jesus uses in answering him does clarify the answer and at the same time uses a cultural tension to heighten the lesson. First he says a Priest of the Jewish Temple passes the victim of robbery by, one who is most scrupulous in observing the letter of the Law, next a member of the priestly class, a Levite does the same. The one who helps the victim, presumably a Jew, is a member of the Samaritan culture, antagonists of the Jewish people. In this way the Lord provides a moral lesson along with an explanation of the Law.
Reflection:
For the past week in the daily Mass readings we have been hit time and again with the notion that we are called to be disciples and we are sent into the world to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God. Today we are given an outstanding example of how we are to accomplish that mission.
In the first reading from Deuteronomy, we hear Moses exhorting the Hebrew people to follow the Law laid down for them. He tells them it is not an impossible thing to ask. Rather it is easily within their grasp – they can feel the rightness of it in their hearts.
As sort of an introduction to the Gospel, we hear St. Paul in his Letter to the Colossians calling Jesus the “Mediator of Creation”. It is he who will define for us the will of God the Father and explain what we must do to follow His will.
This great introduction flows into the story of the Good Samaritan, a story it turns out, that is a refinement of our understanding of the Great Commandment. It helps us understand that it is all mankind that we are joined to in God. The Lord did not just make us Jews, or Christians, or Pagans, or Islamic, or Buddhist, or even atheists. We are all one in the eyes of God and as such our obligation as Disciples of Christ is to help those in need regardless of their creed or lack thereof.
Our Great Commandment is reiterated today. It is an exclamation point on this past week’s injunction to go into the world with the Good News. Strengthened with God’s grace and bolstered with his word we only need to act on our convictions.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture today is “The Good Samaritan” by Johann Karl Loth, 1676
As sort of an introduction to the Gospel, we hear St. Paul in his Letter to the Colossians calling Jesus the “Mediator of Creation”. It is he who will define for us the will of God the Father and explain what we must do to follow His will.
This great introduction flows into the story of the Good Samaritan, a story it turns out, that is a refinement of our understanding of the Great Commandment. It helps us understand that it is all mankind that we are joined to in God. The Lord did not just make us Jews, or Christians, or Pagans, or Islamic, or Buddhist, or even atheists. We are all one in the eyes of God and as such our obligation as Disciples of Christ is to help those in need regardless of their creed or lack thereof.
Our Great Commandment is reiterated today. It is an exclamation point on this past week’s injunction to go into the world with the Good News. Strengthened with God’s grace and bolstered with his word we only need to act on our convictions.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture today is “The Good Samaritan” by Johann Karl Loth, 1676
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