Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: October 7, 2024

Date: Monday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time/Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

Scripture Text:  Luke 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.”

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel for today recounts Jesus’ response to a scholar of the law who sought to test Jesus with a question concerning what is needed to gain eternal life. Jesus turned the man’s question back to him. The man was able to answer correctly but then further pushed Jesus by asking “who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered with the parable of the Good Samaritan that highlights the unexpected loving kindness and mercy of one toward a stranger. It is unexpected because the Israelites and Samaritans did not fraternize.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Am I open to one in need regardless of their ethnicity, politics, religion?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, Beloved Son, Most Holy Spirit, You are love itself and You ask of us to be loving beings, loving You with our whole being, mind, heart, and strength and loving one another as sisters and brothers to one another. Stir within us your transformative love so that we might be the loving beings You created us to be and call us to be. Amen.