Mass Reading and Reflection for Monday October 6th 2025

First Reading: (Jonah 1:1–17; 2:1–10)

Responsorial Psalm:

Taken from Jonah chapter 2.
Response: “You brought up my life from the pit, O Lord.”

Alleluia

Gospel: (Luke 10:25–37)

Happy Monday!

Today’s Gospel presents the familiar parable of the Good Samaritan, a powerful call to love without boundaries, even our enemies.
While the Samaritan exemplifies love in action, we are invited to examine the priest and the Levite, who saw the wounded man but failed to act.

Why did they fail to show love? 

First, customs and traditions. ome customs and traditions prevent us from loving our neighbors. Religious statutes, societal norms, or institutional bylaws can enslave us to rules that dehumanize others. No law or tradition justifies such cruelty.

Even within the Church, members sometimes withhold love because of unpaid dues or missed obligations. When customs overshadow compassion, love loses its meaning.

Second, religious laws and fear. The priest and the Levite were bound by Jewish law: touching blood or corpses could render them ritually unclean (Leviticus 11:34).

Fear of breaking religious norms or facing social judgment can prevent us from showing mercy.
Yet, no law is greater than the law of love, which fulfills all commandments. True faith is expressed not in ritual, but in compassion.

Third, inherited disputes. Hatred and hostility passed down through generations can blind us to goodness.

Jews and Samaritans were historical enemies, yet it was the Samaritan who acted with mercy.
We must not let inherited prejudice or old wounds stop us from doing what is right.
Love must break the chains of generational hate.

Fourth, retaliation or conditional love. We often withhold love because someone has wronged us. But two wrongs never make a right.

The Good Samaritan did not ask whether the injured man would have helped him in return, he simply acted out of compassion.
True love is not transactional; it gives freely, without expectation.

My friends, may we choose to be good, even when others act poorly.

Life is short; act with love, mercy, and compassion. We never know whose hands will be caring for us when we need help the most.

This reflection reminds us that there are no excuses for withholding love from anyone in need.

Have a wonderful week.

-Pal Ronnie-