‘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.’
Gospel
Luke 10:25‐37
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.’
Hearing!
“Speak Lord your servants are listening”
Slowly read the Gospel passage; listening carefully to the story. Read
it intentionally, so as to perceive the small details we can miss on an
initial reading. These small details might be the bridge between the
Gospel Story and the story of your life.
- What phrase of word resonated with you in your reading of this text?
Happening
Through the lens of the Gospel we now look with compassion at
the story of our lives
Having listened to the text of the Gospel now let it speak to the text
of your life story. Become aware of where this Gospel story is already
alive in your life or in your community. Or maybe you notice where it is
absent in your life? Where might this Gospel story be inviting life and
hope into aspects of your life that long for resurrection and new life?
Hoping
What do you want to say to the Lord in light of what you have
shared, or what you have heard others share during this time of
prayer?
The Gospel always leads us to places of hope, possibility, and new
beginnings. It awakens us too where and what we should be grateful
for. It leads us to where God is waiting and inviting us to grow in
freedom, inner peace and maturity as a disciple. What prayer is in your
heart as you draw to a close this period of prayer?
