In this week's edition of There's more in the Gospel than meets the eye,
Jill Bevilacqua and Seàn-Patrick Lovett bring us readings and reflections for the
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Listen:
GospelLk 10:25-37
There was a scholar
of the law who stood up to test him 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.”