The Catholic Calendar for Monday, October 9, 2006
Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
St. Denis, bishop and martyr
St. John Leonardi, priest

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Galatians 1:6-12
Psalm 111:1b-2, 7-8, 9 and 10c
Luke 10:25-37

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In Paul's letter to the Galatians, we come to realize that the people of our time are not very different from those in his preaching days. It appears as though the Galatians have left or thwarted the Gospel of Jesus in order to win favor of friends and family. The fear of being rejected by peers in believing in the true messages of Jesus, have left them confused and cowardly in Paul's presence. They do not even know what is just and good due to their following what everyone else happens to be doing.

Paul reasserts Jesus' teachings as "not of human origin" and challenges them to leave worldly ideas behind them, to truly come to know and understand their place in God's Divine Plan.

Luke parallels Paul's letter in Jesus' parable. Who is the real Christian neighbor, the Levite, or the Samaritan who stopped to lend a helping hand to the beaten victim? Jesus challenges not only the educated, but also the ordinary person by asking a simple question: “Which of these two, in your opinion, was neighbor?”

However, when we think about the meaning behind Jesus' parable, we come to question our own interpretation of the Gospel, and how we really live it out. Do we bend Jesus' rules so they fit our lifestyle and personal principles (so we look good in the eyes of friends, family, employers)? Or do we take a stand and show them what a true Christian is really made of, even knowing we will be laughed at by others?

- Alicia