Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, C
Deuteronomy 30:10-14
Ps. 69
Colossians 1: 15-20
Luke 10: 25-37

The focus of the Scriptures today is on the command of God, and the need to own it and live it. The First Reading, from Deuteronomy, is Moses addressing the Israelites, encouraging them that God’s law is “not too mysterious and remote for you…it is something very near to you, already in your mouths and hearts; you have only to carry it out.” The Responsorial Psalm reiterates Moses’ exhortation, saying “Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.” In today’s Gospel, a lawyer asks Jesus, “What must I do to inherit everlasting life?” When Jesus questions the lawyer about his opinion on the question, he responds with the “summary of the Law” (from Deuteronomy 6:4 and Leviticus 19:18). When Jesus approves of the answer, the lawyer says, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus responds with the parable of the Good Samaritan. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, commenting on this parable, says, “Neighborliness is not a quality in other people, it is simply their claim on ourselves. We have literally no time to sit down and ask ourselves whether so-and-so is our neighbor or not. We must get into action and obey; we must behave like a neighbor to him.”

The Second Reading today begins our four-week continuous reading of the Letter to the Colossians. Today’s pericope will be familiar to those who celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours, because it is the New Testament Canticle at Evening Prayer on Wednesdays. It combines images from the wisdom literature of the Old Testament with new ideas concerning redemption through Christ. This passage keeps in a creative tension the equally important ideas of the pre-existent Wisdom, and Wisdom’s becoming incarnate and reconciling earth and heaven through “the blood of His cross.”

This hymn is based on today’s Scriptures:
"With all your heart and mind and soul"
Said Moses in his preaching,
"Heed the commandments of the Lord,
Attend to all this teaching.
For this command is near today,
Not over sea or far away
Beyond your reach in heaven--
Here in your mouth, your lips, your heart
God's law is found; now make your start
With grace you have been given."

To illustrate this very point,
Our Savior told the story
Of traveller, attacked by thieves
And left, bereft and gory.
Two passed him, left him aidless there,
But one, a stranger, gave him care.
Thus summarized, the Law is:
Love God with heart, soul, strength, and mind,
And neighbor, too; do this and find
The gate of endless life ‘tis.

Through Jesus, our Messiah-Lord,
We each receive the blessing
To love our neighbor and our God
Though rough the path and stressing;
All brought to peace and reconciled
In Christ's own blood which, undefiled,
Upon the Cross was given
That He the first-born Son might be
Head of the Body, making free
Our entrance into heaven.

peculiar meter:
"A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth"
Propers from the Roman Gradual

Introit, option one: Dum clamarem (Ps. 55:17,18, 19, 20, 23, 2)
When I call unto the Lord, it is he who will hear my voice,
from those who approach me in battle,
and he will bring them very low,
who is before all ages, and remains forevermore.
O cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you.
Hear my prayer, O God; do not hide yourself from my petition;
listen to me and answer me.

Introit, option two: Ego autem (Ps. 18:16)
In the judgment when I shall be vindicated, I shall behold your face.
When I rise up, I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.
Hear my plea of innocence, O Lord;
give heed to my cry.

Offertory: Ad te levavi (Ps. 25:1-2a)
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; O my God, in you I trust,
let me not be confounded; neither let my enemies triumph
over me; for none who look to you shall be put to shame.

Communion, first option: Passer invenit (Ps. 84:2-3)
The sparrow has found her a house
and the sallow a nest where she may lay her young;
beside your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
Happy are they who dwell in your house!
They will be always praising you.

Communion, second option: Qui manducat (Jn. 6:56)
He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood,
abides in me and I in him, says the Lord.

Propers from the Simple Gradual

The suite of antiphons and psalms from Ordinary Time III (BFW 239–247) —
petitioning God for assistance — is especially appropriate.

Entrance: BFW 61 (When you call to the Lord . . .)
Response: Alleluia psalm comprised of alleluia BFW 156 (as antiphon)
with verses from BFW 18 (Psalm 85)
Offertory: BFW 6 (Those who hope in you . . .)
Communion: BFW 208 (You have fed your people . . .),
without the alleluia, with verses from BFW 347