Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C

First Reading

Deuteronomy 30:10-14

Moses reminds the people that God's commandments are not remote but are already in their hearts.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 69:14,17,30-31,36-37

Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.

Second Reading

Colossians 1:15-20

Jesus is the head of the body, the Church.

Gospel Reading

Luke 10:25-37

The parable of the Good Samaritan

Background on the Gospel Reading

As Jesus continues his journey to Jerusalem, he is confronted by a scholar of the law who wants to test him. In the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, Jesus is asked about the greatest commandment. Here, in Luke's Gospel, the lawyer asks what we must do to inherit eternal life. In the other two Gospels, Jesus answers the question by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5, on loving God with all your heart, and Leviticus 19:18, on loving your neighbor. Here Jesus asks the expert to answer this question, “What is written in the law?” The man is caught and responds with Deuteronomy 6:5. This verse is one of the most important prayers in Judaism, and it was said twice a day in Jesus' time. Love of God and love of neighbor are what is required for eternal life. Jesus' response is simple, “Do this and you will live.”

Having been shown up by Jesus, the lawyer tries another question: Who is my neighbor whom I must love like myself? In the society of Jesus' time, with its distinctions between Jews and Gentiles, men and women, clean and unclean, this was a trick question. Jesus responds with one of the most beautiful of all the parables, the Good Samaritan. It is found only in Luke's Gospel.

The road from Jerusalem to Jericho descends 3,300 feet in just 17 miles. Its narrow passes and rocky terrain made it an easy place for bandits to wait for travelers. The traveler in this parable is identified only as “a certain man.” Luke uses this phrase in many of his parables so that the audience, Jew or Gentile, could identify with the man. After the attack, the man is left for dead, naked and bleeding on the side of the road. A priest comes along, but rather than helping, as one might expect, he moves to the other side of the road. Another religious person comes along, a Levite who assists in the Temple. His reaction is the same as the priest's. Both of them choose to not even find out if the man is alive. A third person comes along. The listeners would probably expect him to be an Israelite. This would make the parable a criticism of the religious leadership. Instead, he is a Samaritan, an Israelite's most hated neighbor. Samaritans were descendants of Jews from the northern part of the country, who had intermarried with Gentiles and did not worship in Jerusalem. The Samaritan not only goes over to the injured man but cleans his wounds, puts him on his own animal, takes him to an inn to recover, and promises to pay all his expenses.

The hated enemy is the compassionate neighbor in this parable.

Jesus has demolished all boundary expectations. It is not social definitions such as class, religion, gender, or ethnicity that determines who is our neighbor. A neighbor is a person who acts with compassion toward another. The point becomes not who deserves to be loved as I love myself, but that I become a person who treats everyone with compassion.

When Jesus asks the lawyer who was the neighbor in the story, the lawyer can't bring himself to say it was the Samaritan. All he says is that it was “the one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus' response was similar to that of the first discussion: “Go and do likewise.” The lawyer, and we, know what is right. The key is to do it.

Amazing Grace!

6-week Summer Bible Study

with the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans

Paul carefully composed his letter to the Christians in Rome. He poured into it his deepest reflection on who Jesus Christ is and what he means for humankind.

Paul has spent many years pondering the gospel, sharing it with other people and observing its effects in their lives. As we listen to him, we will encounter much enthusiasm and hope.



In small sharing groups we will discuss Paul’s good news about Jesus and the impact of the gospel on our lives.

Meeting Times and venues:

Monday evenings, 6:45 – 8:30 pm, Parish Center

July 14, 21, 28, August 4, 11, 18

Tuesday mornings, 10:00am – 11:30am, Parish Center

July 15, 22, 29, August 5, 12, 19

Registration

• In the parish office
• Or contact Carole King at stpatbiblestudy40@gmail.com or 760-434-5688

Cost is $15.

(Cash or check payable to St. Patrick Church)

New parishioners & those new to bible study are most welcome!

No bible study experience needed.

Please Join Us & Bring a Friend!

Sponsored by the St. Patrick Bible Study Team

Religious Education Preschool to 8th Grade 

Registration Information for the 2025-2026 School Year

We are here to support parents in forming their children in the Catholic Faith and engage in our parish community where we worship and grow together in faith. We offer weekly classes for preschool through 8th grade and preparation for the sacraments for children in grades 1 through 8.

The online registration is open for all our classes from Preschool through 8th grade. 

Please visit our Religious Education Preschool to 8th grade website at www.stpatrickcarlsbad.com

Contact the Office for Religious Education at 760-729-8442, or mdornisch@stpatrickcarlsbad.com with questions about faith formation or sacramental preparation.  

Blessings, 

Margit Dornisch,

Religious Education & Family Ministry 

Un Saludo de

parte del Diacono Miguel,

En aquel tiempo, se presentó antes Jesús un doctor de la ley para ponerlo a prueba y le preguntó, “Maestro, ¿qué debo hacer para conseguir la vida eterna?” Jesús le dijo, “¿Qué es lo que está escrito en la ley? ¿Qué lees en ella?” El doctor de la ley contestó, “Amarás al Señor tu Dios, con todo tu corazón, con toda tu alma, con todas tus fuerzas y con todo tu ser, y a tu prójimo como a ti mismo”. Jesús le dijo, “Has contestado bien, si haces eso, vivirás”. El doctor de la ley, para justificarse, le pregunto a Jesús, “¿Y quién es mi prójimo?” Me imagino estar escuchando esta conversación de Jesús y el doctor de la ley, tuvo que ser un momento de tensión para el doctor de la ley. Porque el doctor sabe la respuesta que va a recibir de Jesús. Jesús también conoce la ley que les pide a los judíos, amar a todos, judíos o no judíos. ¡Esa es la ley de Dios! Esa es la ley que está en nuestro corazón, que nos llama ser buenos y cuidar de otros, católicos y no católicos. Vivemos en un tiempo de mucha división, se han formado equipos del grupo rojo y azul; de los religiosos y no tan religiosos. Este domingo, escuchamos la parábola del Buen Samaritano, una persona juzgada como “sucia, antes los ojos de los judíos porque había adaptado otras tradiciones que no eran vistas limpias para ellos”. Pero el Buen Samaritano, ve un hombre medio-muerto y en necesidad, no investiga quién es o cuál es su religión, sólo le interesa cuidarlo. Eso nos toca a nosotros, de ser buenos samaritanos, a todos. Este mundo necesita mucho a buen samaritanos, ¿qué tenemos que hacer tú y yo para llevar a cabo esta misión?  

3821 Adams Street

Carlsbad, California 92008

760.729.2866