Sunday between 23 and 29 October    

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

First Reading - Leviticus 19.2b, 15-18

A reading from the book of Leviticus. You shall be holy, for I am holy, says the Lord your God. You shall ensure justice for your neighbour, without regard to status or wealth. You shall not speak falsehood against your neighbour. You shall not profit from endangering the life of your neighbour. You shall not hold hatred in your heart against your neighbour. You shall challenge your neighbour’s wrong-doing, for if you fail to do so, you bear the guilt of that wrong-doing yourself. You shall not take revenge, or bear a grudge, against any of your people. And you shall love your neighbour as yourself. This is the word of the Lord.

Second Reading - 1 Thessalonians 2.1,7b,12-13

A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians. You yourselves know, my brothers and sisters, that the time we spent with you was not in vain. We were gentle amongst you, like a mother with her own children. We urged and encouraged you to lead lives that are honouring to God, who has called you into the glory of God’s kingdom. And now, we constantly give thanks to God that when you received the word of God from us, you welcomed it not as a human word, but as God’s word, which indeed it is. And we give thanks that God’s word is now powerfully at work amongst you. This is the word of the Lord.

Gospel - Matthew 22.35-40

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. One of the Pharisees, an expert in the law, asked Jesus this question: ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ Jesus said, ‘The first and greatest commandment is this: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’ This is the Gospel of the Lord.