MONTHLY DEVOTIONAL FOR 25
October 25, 2026
TODAY’S GOSPEL READING
25 OCTOBER, 2026
Matthew 22:34-40
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees,
they gathered together, and one of them,
a scholar of the law, tested him by asking,
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”
He said to him,
“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind.
This is the greatest and the first commandment.
The second is like it:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD!
SUMMARY
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law, tested him by asking, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
REFLECTION
In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that the heart of God’s law is love: love of God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and love of our neighbor as ourselves. These two commandments cannot be separated. Our love for God must be reflected in how we treat the people around us.
In today’s world, it is easy to appear religious while forgetting the demands of genuine love. We may attend Mass, pray the Rosary, share Bible verses online, and participate in Church activities, yet remain judgmental, insensitive, or indifferent to the suffering of others. We may defend our beliefs on social media but humiliate those who disagree with us. Jesus challenges us to move beyond religious appearances and make love the foundation of our actions.
Loving our neighbor means listening patiently, forgiving sincerely, respecting human dignity, helping those in need, and refusing to participate in gossip or online bullying. It also means loving difficult people without compromising truth and justice. As Catholics, we are called to recognize Christ in every person, especially the poor, the rejected, and the forgotten.
Ultimately, holiness is not measured only by how much we pray but also by how faithfully we love. Prayer should transform our hearts and lead us to serve others with compassion.
PRAYER
Lord, help us examine our love for You, if it is visible in our relationships. I choose one concrete act of love, to reconcile with someone, encourage a discouraged person, help someone in need, or refrain from a hurtful comment. Before I pray tonight, I need to ask myself: “Did the people I encounter today experience God’s love through me?” Lord, I want to live in such a way, that my faith becomes visible through the love I give and I give love in emulation of You. Through Christ our Lord. Amen
