The Word today, 28C
- Admin
- Oct 9, 2025
- 3 min read
October 13 - October 18, 2025
Romans 1:1-7 Paul wrote to Christians in Rome because they were in conflict with each other over how much of Jewish tradition to keep. The opening greeting is enriched with a careful account of the core convictions of the faith.
Luke 11:29-32 In Luke’s Gospel, the foundational portrait of Jesus is that of prophet, one who speak on behalf of God a penetrating word. Asking for a sign is to doubt that the prophet comes from God. Jesus, in this passage, has a robust self-understanding, ending in a challenge for us today as well.
St Callistus I, bishop of Rome, martyr
Romans 1:16-25 Paul is writing to Gentiles and Jews who have become Christians. He starts by reminding the Gentiles where they came from: idolatry and immorality. No doubt they felt uncomfortable being reminded of their past!
Luke 11:37-41 Lest we sit back in satisfaction, it may help to recall that all religious activity tends towards prizing externals, a reality today as much in the life of Jesus. What lies at the heart of religion? Jesus gives a direct answer in today’s Gospel.
St Teresa of Ávila, religious and doctor
Romans 2:1-11 Yesterday, Paul outlined Gentile sin and perhaps sneakily led the Jews into judging. Now he turns on them, his co-religionists. The path for all is repentance.
Luke 11:42-46 Experts and “higher ups” always seek honour and titles. Jesus has no time at all for such nonsense, especially when it goes hand it hand with burdensome regulations.
St Hedwig, religious; St Margaret Mary Alacoque, religious; St Gall, abbot and missionary
Romans 3:21-30 Today we hear one of the most difficult passages in Paul. In a word: Jesus’ own faithfulness discloses the faithfulness of God. I would recommend a better translation for these key verses, such as the NET bible ( available at www.bible.org).
Luke 11:47-54 Prophets are often blunt, and none blunter than Jesus himself. He does speak offensively and you can see why the officials of the day were offended and why he roused opposition, proving eventually to be lethal.
St Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr
Romans 4:1-8 Abraham was important because he was considered in “right relationship” (= justified) independently of good deeds (= circumcision, dietary laws and Sabbath observance). In other words, it was always possible to be justified without good deeds on the basis of faith.
Luke 12:1-7 Yeast, which causes inflation, provides a ready metaphor for hypocrisy (lit. mask wearing). The second paragraph assure the friends of Jesus of God’s boundless care for them. There’s even a flash of humour in the attempt at hyperbole: you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows (two could be bought for a penny!).
St Luke, gospel writer
2 Timothy 4:10-17 The reading is chosen for the feast because it mentions a certain “Luke.” This is unlikely to be the same as the writer of the Gospel and Acts. However, the reading shows somewhat wavering support for the apostle or, in reality, for those sustaining the Pauline tradition in a later context.
Luke 10:1-9 The sending the seventy-two—unique to Luke and anticipating the wider mission in the Acts— portrays a picture of fleetfooted evangelisers, who travel lightly and without hindrance of any kind.
References
-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025cj, October 12). Twenty-eighth Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101225.cfm
-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings
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