15th Sunday of the Year (C)

15th Sunday of the Year (C), July 14, 2013

Liturgical readings
Deuteronomy 30:10-14
Psalm 69
Colossians 1:15-20
Luke 10:25-37

"Then go and do the same."



On one occasion


a lawyer stood up
to pose this problem
to Jesus:


"Teacher,
what must I do
to inherit everlasting life?"


Jesus answered him:


"What is written in the law?
How do you read it?"


He replied:


"You shall love the Lord your God


        with all your heart
        with all your soul
        with all your strength
        and with all your mind;


and your neighbor as yourself."


Jesus said,
"You have answered correctly.
Do this and you shall live."


But because he wished
to justify himself
he said to Jesus,


"And who is my neighbor?"


Jesus replied:


"There was a man
going down from Jerusalem
to Jericho
who fell in with robbers.


They stripped him,
beat him,
and then went off
leaving him half-dead.


A priest happened to be going down
the same road;
he saw him
but continued on.


Likewise
there was a Levite
who came the same way;
he saw him
and went on.


But
a Samaritan
who was journeying along
came on him
and was moved to pity
at the sight.


He approached him
and dressed his wounds,
pouring in oil and wine
as a means to heal.


He then hoisted him
on his own beast
and brought him to an inn,
where he cared for him.


The next day
he took out two silver pieces
and gave them to the innkeeper
with the request:


'Look after him,
and if there is any further expense
I will repay you on my way back'."


"Which of these three,
in your opinion,
was neighbor to the man
who fell in with robbers?"


The answer came,


"The one who treated him
with compassion."


Jesus said to him,


"Then go and do the same."


Scripture verses:
"This command is something very near to you, already in your hearts; you
have only to carry it out." (Deuteronomy 30)
"For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah." (Psalm 69)
"Christ is before all else that is. In him everything continues in being." (Colossians 1)