Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, 10th July 2022

And who is my neighbour?

Today’s readings celebrate the nearness of the Lord to us. Created through God and for God, we are drawn ever closer by peace and reconciliation. Not only that. We are also called to become like the Lord in our service to all.

The First Reading commands us to love, and gives us the means to do it. The law, or word, is not beyond our reach but is as close to us as our very hearts. And the help and compassion of the Lord for the poor and needy can be seen by our service. It is through this that, hearts will revive (Psalm).

The Second Reading makes clear that all is possible by Christ and his cross. He holds everything in being from the beginning and, even now, is drawing us together in deeper unity.

Finally, the parable of the Good Samaritan (Gospel) gives us a concrete example of what this service, this command to love, this deeper unity without bias or prejudice, looks like.

Let’s pray, this week, that we might have renewed confidence, trust, and hope in the Good Samaritan who comes close to us in our need, that we might go out so that God’s desires for all people might be seen by our loving response.

We continue to pray for the peace of the world, and for all who suffer as a result of conflict and violent attack.