Catholic Men’s Daily Devotional and Bible Study – 27th Week in Ordinary time – Monday – Luke 10:25-37

The Gospel reading from the Mass for Monday of the 27th Week of Ordinary Time is Luke 10:25-37.

Christ is asked by a lawyer, an expert in Mosaic law, about how to obtain eternal life. Asserting His authority, Christ questions the lawyer who accurately calls the 2 Great Commandments (v. 27) the key to eternal life; astoundingly, Jesus gives an insight into eternity by boldly revealing that by doing this, the lawyer will have eternal life.

Responding to lawyer’s question about the identity of one’s neighbor, Christ gives the timeless and powerful parable of The Good Samaritan. The parable is remarkable, tying in themes of violence and mercy, ethnic segregation and brotherly unity, religious blindness and true piety, the replacement of the Old Mosaic Law with the New Covenant, cowardly self-centeredness with heroic generosity.

Christ reveals that His Kingdom is universal, unifying all men as brothers who accept Him and making heroic charity for one’s neighbor the standard for mercy and a key criteria for man’s salvation.

Awed by Jesus Christ – Son of God, Christ fearlessly promotes the New Covenant of Holiness, purposefully casting legally observant Old Covenant Jews as the villains and a much-despised Samaritan as the hero.  Divine Teacher, Christ uses memorable parables that continue to intrigue and illuminate men over the millennia.  Son of God and Divine Judge, Christ reveals that, in the Judgment, He will save those who keep the 2 Great Commandments, implying that those who do not will die.

Being a Heroic Catholic Man

1)  Christ, seemingly a Jewish carpenter from the backwaters of Galilee, speaks and acts like God: He effortlessly handles a pedigreed expert in the law; He asserts His eternal view and dominion by telling the lawyer that he can have eternal life; He completely upends the Old Covenant ceremonial laws and promotes a New Covenant in the parable. Reflect on Him and be awed.

2) Christ’s powerful Parable of the Good Samaritan summarizes Christ’s call for men to embrace charity (to love). Refresh your understanding of the Theological Virtue of Charity (CCC 1812-1813, 1822-1829) and pray for Christ to give you the Grace to love God with your entire soul and your neighbor as yourself.

3) Knowing men’s desire to be heroic, in the Good Samaritan, Christ commands men to demonstrate heroic love to neighbor. Reflect upon the mandate to Love Thy Neighbor (CCC 678, 1033, 1706, 1789, 1807, 1822, 1844, 1878, 2055, 2067, 2196, 2447) and pray for Christ to awaken you to opportunities to demonstrate charity and the grace to do so.

Spiritual Practices – Include in Today’s Prayers

Sacred Mystery of Rosary – The Joyful Mysteries

Daily Devotion – The Souls in Purgatory

Virtue of the Day – Prudence

Corporal Work of Mercy – To give drink to the thirsty

Spiritual Work of Mercy – To instruct the ignorant