Deacon:  Wisdom. Stand up. Hear the Holy Gospel.

Priest:   Peace to you all. 

People:  And to your spirit.

Deacon: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke [10:25-37]

People:  Glory to You Lord. Glory to You.

Priest:   Listen.

Deacon:

At that time, there was a lawyer who wanted to catch out Jesus. He stood up and said to Him, ‘Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’

Jesus said to him, ‘What is written in the Law? How do you understand it?’

He replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. And your neighbour as yourself.’

Jesus said, ‘You have answered correctly. Do this and life is yours.’

But the man wanted to prove himself and said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’

Jesus replied:

‘Once a man was on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho. He fell into the hands of  highway robbers. They took all he had, beat him up, and then went off leaving him half dead.

‘Now a priest happened to be travelling down the same road. But when he saw the man he crossed the road and kept going.

‘In the same way a Levite came there, saw him, crossed the road, and kept going.

‘But a Samaritan traveller who came near him, was moved with compassion when he saw him. He went to him, bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He then lifted him onto his own ride, took him to an inn, and looked after him.  Next day he took out two denarii, and gave them to the innkeeper.

‘He said, “Look after him, and on my way back I will make up any extra expenses you have.”

‘Which of these three, do you think, proved himself neighbour to the man, who fell into the hands of the highway robbers?’

He replied, ‘The one who took pity on him.’

People: Glory to You Lord, Glory to You.