Gulf Pine Catholic • July 11, 2025 5 MORE THAN FUNERAL DIRECTORS We are Professional Remembrance Planners Explore the many unique ways to honor and celebrate lives. Call or visit Bradford O’Keefe today. BRADFORD-O’KEEFE FUNERAL HOMES Professional. Compassionate. Dignified. 228-374-5650 • Bradfordokeefe.com Just do it! After cycles of infidelity, rebellion, and idolatry during their forty-year desert trek (Exodus 12:27- 18:27; Joshua 5:6-9), where many of the original sojourners died, Moses (Deuteronomy chapters 27-34) addresses the remnant who will take possession of the promised land. With Egypt’s slavery and their desert experiences behind them, God provided everything they needed to shape their future as a nation. Their new land offered fertile soil for physical nourishment and the promised presence of God, as revealed through the commandments, patriarchs, judges, and prophets. God intended Israel’s resources to shine as a light to surrounding nations that would observe their actions and conclude that their (one, true, living) God was greater than gods made by human hands. But history tells us there were challenges. Have their past mistakes taught them to rely on the Lord, or treat freedom as a license to do as they please? Will they live according to Mosaic Law (the Commandments); maintain a life of prayer, praise, and worship of God, and act with mercy and love toward their neighbors? Moses addresses these and other questions with a plea to center their lives around God and return to the covenant blessings with their heart, mind, and soul. Success in their new life will rely on not repeating past sins, learning God’s statutes and commandments, fixing them in their minds and hearts, and, most importantly, carrying them out. What about me? God gave the commandments to His beloved people to keep them in His love and allow them to know when they were offending Him -- He loved them too much to leave them in the dark. We can view God’s commandments and church teaching as burdens that impose restrictions, or as gifts of our Lord’s loving care. In what ways have you demonstrated belief that God’s commandments speak truth? How has your life reflected that God always wants what is best for you? Lord, open my eyes to see clearly your ways but dimly mine. Jesus first! Tensions emerged in the Colossian community between teachers promoting cultic practices and strict dietary rules and those advocating the primacy of Christ. Our priority of worldly pursuits, pleasures, and practices distracts us from focusing on Christ’s call to discipleship. Paul, in today’s second reading, urges them to return to their earlier progress in spiritual wisdom and live in a manner worthy of the Lord. Duplicity and compromise in lifestyle must give way to the supremacy of Christ. Their challenge and opportunity are to live and proclaim the truth that Jesus Christ is Lord. What tensions do you face as you struggle with these same choices? My neighbor? It was common for rabbis and scholars in Jesus’ time to debate how 613 commandments, developed as Pharisaical law, could be summarized into a few that were highest in priority. In that context, today’s Gospel features a scholar engaging Jesus in a test of wits and attempting to humiliate Him publicly. Our Lord replied to the question, “What must I do to inherit everlasting life?” with a question: “What is written in the law, how do you interpret it?” The scholar’s answer showed a good understanding of the commandments and the ability to articulate his beliefs clearly. Jesus replied, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But we know that eternal life cannot be attained through selective listening, minimal engagement, or knowledge alone -- action is necessary. Thus, the repartee continues with Jesus responding to the ‘Who is my neighbor’ question by telling the ‘Good Samaritan’ parable. Samaritans were Jews who intermarried with pagans during the seventy-year Babylonian exile (Jeremiah 29:10-14a) and broke away fromMosaic ritual. Jewish leaders regarded them as traitors and despised them. The helpless victim represented an opportunity for passersby to put God’s laws into practice. The priest, a likely choice to promote adherence to God’s laws, passed the victim by. The Levite, a minister of the Temple, also avoided acting. However, a Samaritan, the least expected to connect love of God with love of neighbor, responded with compassion and generosity, demonstrating the true meaning of encountering God through serving others. “The proof of love is in its works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when love ceases to act, it ceases to exist.” -- Saint Gregory the Great “People don’t care about how much you know, until they know how much you care” -- various authors Reflect and Act: 1. When deciding whether to ignore or follow God’s commands, do you base your judgment on personal prejudices, whims, lifestyle choices, or the teachings from Scripture and the Church? 2. This week, dedicate yourself to a deeper study of God’s word and perform at least one Good Samaritan act. Deacon Ralph Torrelli lives in Hattiesburg and is assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. Visit his website: www.homilypearls.com. 1st Reading:Deuteronomy 30:10-14 Responsorial Psalm: 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37 2nd Reading: Colossians 1:15-20 Gospel: Luke 10:25-37 Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time Living truth Deacon Torrelli Sunday Scripture Commentaries To include your parish and school events and activity information on Bulletin Board, email that information to: tdickson@biloxidiocese.org or submit on our website: www.gulfpinecatholic.com.
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