Texts taken from the “On Your Word” Missal July-August 2025
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)
3rd week, psalter
FIRST READING
From the Book of Deuteronomy (Dt 30:10-14)
Moses spoke to the people, saying: “You shall obey the voice of the Lord your God, observing his commandments and decrees, written in this book of the law, and you shall return to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. This command that I give you today is not too high for you, nor too far from you. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, so that we may carry it out?’ It is not beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, so that we may carry it out?’ Rather, this word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may carry it out.” – The word of God.
Commentary on the first reading
When God asks the chosen people to obey, he is telling them very clearly that they simply need to listen to his voice, which leads them toward the path of life and happiness. The Lord extends the same invitation to you, but you may be wondering how it is possible to hear and recognize the voice of the Most High. In fact, it is not difficult, because if you learn to listen to the voice of your heart, after some practice you will be able to recognize the voice of God speaking through your conscience, which urges you to live and behave well. Therefore, you are called to obey the voice of God in order to experience true freedom; indeed, only when you listen to him and put his will into practice do you experience a great peace that no one can give you.
SECOND READING
From the Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Colossians (Col 1:15-20)
Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, because in him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible: Thrones, Dominions, Principalities, and Powers. All things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the Church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might be the one to have primacy in all things. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him and through him and for him to reconcile all things, making peace by the blood of his cross, both the things on earth and those in heaven. – The word of God.
Commentary on the second reading
The Christians of the community of Colossae were very receptive to those mystery philosophies that sought to define what constituted the fullness of being in the universe. Paul tells them that Jesus Christ is the only true fullness, that is, he is the one in whom everything is recapitulated and in whom every being finds the meaning of its existence. Many men and women today are constantly searching for new doctrines that might whet their thirst for mystery; they will find nothing except what the Scriptures already clearly say: only in Christ is the answer to every human question found. He is the firstborn from the dead: in him, that life which God first gave to his Son has been manifested in its fullness, and which, on a day appointed by him, will also be our life.
GOSPEL
From the Gospel according to Luke (Lk 10:25-37)
At that time, a scholar of the Law stood up to put Jesus to the test and asked him, “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 answered, “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.” He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But he, wishing to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him bloody, and went away, leaving him half dead. By chance, a priest was going down that same road and, when he saw him, passed by on the other side. Likewise, a Levite who came to that place saw him and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan who was traveling came upon him, and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion. He went over to him, bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; then he lifted him onto his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day, he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him; whatever more you spend, I will repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” – The Word of the Lord.
Gospel Commentary
This universally known parable always has something to teach you. First of all, what often kills charity and love for others is haste and fear. Too often you rush through life so much that you fail to notice those beside you who are slowly dying, silently. One of your words, a smile, or a handshake would be like balm poured over those wounds, but haste, unfortunately, blinds you. You too must have the courage to stop, to give your time to others: love is truly love only when it allows you to give something of yourself. And then, do not be afraid to love because you think others might use or deceive you. There is never fear or apprehension in love.
