13 Jul
Sun
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)
Deut 30:10-14
Ps 68 (69):14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36-37 (or 18:8-11)
Col 1:15-20
Lk 10:25-37
(Ps Wk III)
How To Pray With Shalom
Home Page of Shalom
Index of This Month
 
 

The law of the Lord is not beyond our strength or beyond our reach. In other words, obeying the commands of the Lord is doable. What are the commands of the Lord? It is to be kind, compassionate, generous, and open to the needs of others, especially those in trouble, like the man who fell into the hands of the brigands. As Jesus mentions in the parable of the Good Samaritan, these are the neighbours whom we must help.

When we help them, we are actually helping Jesus. For Jesus is the image of the unseen God according to St Paul (Col 1:15). Even the Hebrew scriptures talk about hospitality to God - when we welcome strangers, we are unwittingly welcoming God and His angels. "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares" (Heb 13:2 referring to Gen 18). The concept of neighbour is broadened to include strangers. Hospitality requires humility in reaching out to those whom we do not know or associate with. Our general perception of 'welcoming the stranger' is very challenging for most of us. We prefer to help those who are close to us, or those who can reciprocate our assistance.

Therefore, it is good to reflect on this command of Jesus to reach out to outsiders and strangers. Is this law of the Lord doable? Is it beyond our strength or our reach?



O Lord, foster in me that helping the poor is doable and my consumption of goods be modest.



DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day jul be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
FOR FORMATION IN DISCERNMENT.
Let us pray that we might again learn how to discern, to know how to choose paths of life and reject everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel.
Elaboration

- END -


© Copyright Shalom 2025. All rights reserved.