God says we as Christians are to be holy, even as He is holy.

How is this possible? We know that each of us are tempted to sin. What is easy is for us to judge other people’s sins — but unfortunately we can sometimes be blind to our own sin.

Maybe you have a problem with pride — maybe you look down on someone who drinks too much. What is important is not that we judge one another’s sins, but that we ask God to help us overcome our own sins and weaknesses by the power of His Holy Spirit.

Do you want to be holy? Then realize that just as you became a Christian by God’s love for you and Christ dying on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins, so you need God to live a godly Christian life. Just ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit.

Then, you might want to ask God to help you starting with just one area of your life. Pray and ask Him to reveal to you one area of sin in your life. It could be lying — or lust — or stealing — or greed. Don’t worry about your friend’s sins, just worry about yours. Then this coming week, ask God to help you not sin in that area by the power of His Holy Spirit. You may start small — but believe God great things can come as you yield your life to the power of His Holy Spirit.

So, this week, let us join together in praying

• God will help you — and each of us — begin to overcome one area of sin in each of our lives

Some day we will meet in heaven — what a glorious day that will be! Until then, let us join together in doing the work of the Lord. He is worthy to receive all our praise and honor and glory! Thank you so much for your prayers.

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?" 1 Corinthians 6:19

Gospel of the Day (Luke 10:25-37)

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?

Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?"

He said in reply, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

He replied to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live."

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Jesus replied, "A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.

A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.

Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.

But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him.

The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, 'Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.'

Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers' victim?"

He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

***

Reflections:

"A Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight"

A Samaritan came down that road. «Who has come down from heaven except the one who has gone up to heaven, the Son of Man who is in heaven?» (cf. Jn 3,13). Seeing that man half-dead whom nobody before had been able to heal..., he approached him; that is to say, by accepting to suffer with us he became our friend and by taking pity on us he became our neighbour.

«He dressed his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them». This doctor possesses many remedies with which he habitually heals us. His words are a remedy: with one he binds up wounds, with another he pours ointment over them, with another astringent wine... «Then he lifted him up on his own animal». Hear how he sets you there: «It was our infirmities he bore, our sufferings that he endured» (Is 53,4). And the shepherd, too, set the worn out sheep on his shoulders (Lk 15,5)...

«He took him to an inn and cared for him»... But the Samaritan could not long remain on our earth; he must return from whence he descended. So «the next day» – what is this 'next day' if not the day of the Lord's resurrection, of which it is said «This is the day the Lord has made» (Ps 118[117],24)? – «he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction: Take care of him». What are these two coins? Perhaps they are the two Covenants, bearing the likeness of the Eternal Father, and at whose cost our wounds are healed... Happy that innkeeper who is able to tend another's wounds! Happy the one to whom Jesus says: «If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back»... Thus he promises a repayment. When will you return, Lord, if not at the day of judgement? Even though your remain always everywhere, standing in our midst without our recognising you, the day will come when all flesh shall see you coming. And you will repay what you owe. How will you repay, Lord Jesus? To the good you have promised an immense reward in heaven yet you will pay back even more when you say: «Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy» (Mt 25,21).