ChiRhoRob Newsletter - Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Jul 12, 2025 11:01 pm
ChiRhoRob Newsletter
July 12, 2025 - Volume I, Issue 6
"The source of justice is not vengeance but charity."
Editor’s Note
There’s a state prison I pass when I pick up my daughter from my parents’. This past week, I was stopped next to a prisoner transportation van carrying a new arrival. I could barely see in, but caught a glimpse of the back of the new arrival’s head. With this week’s Gospel on my mind, I started thinking about how our society defines “neighbor”.
Whenever someone is prosecuted for a crime, the title of the case is always adversarial. Looking at current events, we see “Massachusetts vs. Karen Reed” and “Idaho vs. Brian Kohberger”. The prosecuting attorneys, rightfully, refer to themselves as representing “The People”, and are charged with pursuing cases that put dangerous people behind bars. The defense is charged with protecting the rights of the accused and to poke holes in the prosecution’s case against their client. Designed to limit the power of the state, each side plays a vital part in our criminal justice system to identify those that have broken society’s rules, and those that have not.
In this week’s Gospel, Jesus is approached by a Lawyer looking to put him to a test. They ask “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus’ answer should have been sufficient for the Lawyer, as the two greatest commandments were foreshadowed in the Lawyer’s textbook. Jesus responded with a summary from Deuteronomy 6:5, “...and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” and Leviticus 19:18, “You shall not take vengeance or bear any grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”
Friendly reminder of God’s patience with His people— the Levitical laws were given to Israel around the year 1446 BC, and almost 3500 years later, some of us are still trying to understand them.
Looking to vindicate himself by leveraging a technicality (this guy really was a lawyer), he asked how he should define “neighbor”. Jesus then offers his parable of the Good Samaritan on the road to Jericho. With this, Jesus illustrates the superiority of love over legalism. The priest and the Levite, who adhere to the cleanliness laws of the Old Testament, forgo helping someone in need for the sake of remaining “clean”. The Samaritan is truly neighbor to the man who was robbed, and should be who we emulate.
This week’s Gospel is challenging each of us to explore how we define “neighbor”. The truth is, we should recognize everyone’s humanity. This doesn’t mean we release those that may hurt others from prison, but it should mean we look at what our sentencing guidelines are for various crimes to be sure they are commensurate to the risks offenders have on the larger society. Mandatory minimums and three strike policies have disproportionately impacted communities of color, so a holistic look at these standards is needed. Also, we should promote programs that equip those that are released for success on the outside, specifically programs that help with sobriety, technical skills, and life skills. If we have the time and the ability, we should also volunteer to help facilitate these programs. Finally, being a people that promotes life, we should also do what we can to eliminate the use of capital punishment.
I’m not sure who I saw turning into SCI Phoenix, but I do know one thing, although we were on opposing sides in court, he’s my neighbor now, and I’ll be praying for him.
Sunday Readings
Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
First Reading – Dt 30:10-14
Second Reading – Col 1:15-20
Gospel –Lk 10:25-37
Headlines
A few headlines that caught my eye this week:
14 Catholic scouts declared “martyrs” by Pope Leo XIV - Aleteia
3 Saints who understand the struggle of addiction - Aleteia
Vatican urges ethical governance at AI Summit - Aleteia
St. Benedict was 20 years old when he founded a monastery - Aleteia
A life of prayer lifts us - Our Sunday Visitor
Will the Rosary be a new wellness trend? Research says it should be - Aleteia
Vatican gives “nihil obstat” to Slovakian Marian apparitions - Aleteia
Third of all pregnancies in England and Wales end in abortion, figures reveal - Catholic Herald
Camino de Santiago on track for record year amid global pilgrimage surge - Catholic Herald
Pope Leo blesses and signs ‘Popplio’ Pokémon card for pilgrims in Rome - Catholic Herald
Who's spending Peter's Pence? - Pillar
PHOTOS: Invisible ‘sword’ of St. Michael guides pilgrims to these 7 sacred sites - CNA
New diocese erected in Kenya, pope appoints its first bishop - CNA
Bishop goes to bat for migrant farm workers as administration mulls enforcement, visa changes - CNA
Pope Leo XIV appoints Iowa priest to lead mission diocese of Baker, Oregon - CNA
Accused priest seeks laicization, as Lima cardinal pushes back on critics - Pillar
Contemplative Corner
Expanding Community: Third Orders, Associates, & Oblates - Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition
Join the Catholic Prison Ministry Coalition in learning about how religious orders are transforming both the lives of people behind bars and those outside. You will hear about two religious communities, the Sisters of Mary Morning Star and Our Lady of Mercy Chapter MCI Norfolk (Bethany House Ministries), whose presence in prison fosters healing, vocation, and a deep sense of belonging. We are grateful for the powerful insights of Ruth Raichle (Bethany House), Sr. Lydia, and Sr. Pia Maria (both Sisters of Mary Morning Star)! Their testimonies will challenge us to rethink what is possible in prison ministry.
Apostolate Spotlight
Catholic Mobilization Network
Catholic Mobilizing Network is a national organization that mobilizes Catholics and all people of goodwill to value life over death, to end the use of the death penalty, to transform the U.S. criminal legal system from punitive to restorative, and to build capacity in U.S. society to engage in restorative practices. Through education, advocacy, and prayer, and based on the Gospel value that every human is created in the image and likeness of God, CMN expresses the fundamental belief that all those who have caused or been impacted by crime should be treated with dignity. Learn more at Catholic Mobilizing Network.
The Liturgical Week Ahead
Links included below, coloring indicates Liturgical Color
7/14/2025 - Monday - Memorial of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin
Ex 1:8-14, 22/Mt 10:34—11:1
7/15/2025 - Tuesday - Memorial of St. Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Ex 2:1-15a/Mt 11:20-24
7/16/2025 - Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Ex 3:1-6, 9-12/Mt 11:25-27
7/17/2025 - Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Ex 3:13-20/Mt 11:28-30
7/18/2025 - Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Ex 11:10—12:14/Mt 12:1-8
7/19/2025 - Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Ex 12:37-42/Mt 12:14-21
Community Prayer Intentions
For Strength and Comfort
- Sia Krog and the Krog Family
- Mystery New Arrival to SCI Phoenix
- Pope Leo XIV
Eternal Rest
- Emma Niese
- Carrie Mondell
- Pope Benedict XVI
- Pope Francis
Saints in Progress, pray for us!
Thank you!
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Please know of my prayers for you, and please continue to pray for me and my family. I’ll see you next time, but in the meantime, God Bless!
–☧ Rob