Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Deuteronomy 30:10-14 (JB)

A reading from the book of Deuteronomy

Let the instruction of the Lord God be near you.

Moses said to the people: ‘Obey the voice of the Lord your God, keeping those commandments and laws of his that are written in the Book of this Law, and you shall return to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.

‘For this Law that I enjoin on you today is not beyond your strength or beyond your reach. It is not in heaven, so that you need to wonder, “Who will go up to heaven for us and bring it down to us, so that we may hear it and keep it?” Nor is it beyond the seas, so that you need to wonder, “Who will cross the seas for us and bring it back to us, so that we may hear it and keep it?” No, the Word is very near to you, it is in your mouth and in your heart for your observance.’

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Deuteronomy 30:10-14 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of Deuteronomy

Moses spoke to the people, saying,

“Obey the Lord your God

by observing his commandments and decrees

that are written in this book of the law;

turn to the Lord your God with all your heart

and with all your soul.

“Surely this commandment that I am commanding you today

is not too hard for you,

nor is it too far away.

It is not in heaven, that you should say,

‘Who will go up to heaven for us,

and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?’

“Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say,

‘Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us,

and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?’

“No, the word is very near to you;

it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 18:8-11 (JB)

R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

The law of the Lord is perfect,

it revives the soul.

The rule of the Lord is to be trusted,

it gives wisdom to the simple. R.

The precepts of the Lord are right,

they gladden the heart.

The command of the Lord is clear,

it gives light to the eyes. R.

The fear of the Lord is holy,

abiding for ever.

The decrees of the Lord are truth

and all of them just. R.

They are more to be desired than gold,

than the purest of gold

and sweeter are they than honey,

than honey from the comb. R.

Ps 68:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36-37 (JB)

R. Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.

This is my prayer to you,

my prayer for your favour.

In your great love, answer me, O God,

with your help that never fails:

Lord, answer, for your love is kind;

in your compassion, turn towards me. R.

As for me in my poverty and pain

let your help, O God, lift me up.

I will praise God’s name with a song;

I will glorify him with thanksgiving.R.

The poor when they see it will be glad

and God-seeking hearts will revive;

for the Lord listens to the needy

and does not spurn his servants in their chains. R.

For God will bring help to Zion

and rebuild the cities of Judah

and men shall dwell there in possession.

The sons of his servants shall inherit it;

those who love his name shall dwell there. R.

Colossians 1:15-20 (JB)

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Colossians

All things were created through him and for him.

Christ Jesus is the image of the unseen God

and the first-born of all creation,

for in him were created

all things in heaven and on earth:

everything visible and everything invisible,

Thrones, Dominations, Sovereignties, Powers –

all things were created through him and for him.

Before anything was created, he existed,

and he holds all things in unity.

Now the Church is his body,

he is its head.

As he is the Beginning,

he was first to be born from the dead,

so that he should be first in every way;

because God wanted all perfection

to be found in him

and all things to be reconciled through him and for him,

everything in heaven and everything on earth,

when he made peace

by his death on the cross.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Colossians 1:15-20 (NRSV)

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Colossians

Christ is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn of all creation;

for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created,

things visible and invisible,

whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers-

all things have been created through him and for him.

Christ is before all things,

and in him all things hold together.

He is the head of the body, the church;

he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,

so that he might come to have first place in everything.

For in Christ all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things,

whether on earth or in heaven,

by making peace through the blood of his cross.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

cf John 6:63, 68 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Your words, Lord, are spirit and life;

you have the words of everlasting life.

Alleluia!

John 6:63, 68 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Your words, Lord, are spirit and life;

you have the words of everlasting life.

Alleluia!

Luke 10:25-37 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

Who is my neighbour?

There was a lawyer who, to disconcert Jesus, stood up and said to him, ‘Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the Law? What do you read there?’ He replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.’ ‘You have answered right,’ said Jesus. ‘Do this and life is yours.’

But the man was anxious to justify himself and said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of brigands; they took all he had, beat him and then made off, leaving him half dead. Now a priest happened to be travelling down the same road, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite who came to the place saw him, and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan traveller who came upon him was moved with compassion when he saw him. He went up and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He then lifted him on to his own mount, carried him to the inn and looked after him. Next day, he took out two denarii and handed them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said “and on my way back I will make good any extra expense you have.” Which of these three, do you think, proved himself a neighbour to the man who fell into the brigands’ hands?’ ‘The one who took pity on him’ he replied. Jesus said to him, ‘Go, and do the same yourself.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 10:25-37 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke

A lawyer stood up to test Jesus.

“Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law?

What do you read there?”

The lawyer answered,

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,

and with all your soul, and with all your strength,

and with all your mind;

and your neighbour as yourself.”

And Jesus said to him,

“You have given the right answer;

do this, and you will live.”

But wanting to justify himself, the lawyer asked Jesus,

“And who is my neighbour?”

Jesus replied,

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho.

and fell into the hands of robbers,

who stripped him, beat him, and went away,

leaving him half dead.

Now by chance a priest was going down that road;

and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place

and saw him, passed by on the other side.

“But a Samaritan while travelling came near him;

and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.

He went to him and bandaged his wounds,

having poured oil and wine on them.

Then he put him on his own animal,

brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

“The next day the Samaritan took out two denarii,

gave them to the innkeeper, and said,

‘Take care of him;

and when I come back,

I will repay you whatever more you spend.'”

Jesus asked,

“Which of these three, do you think,

was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”

The lawyer said, “The one who showed him mercy.”

Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.