The 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time | Sunday 10 September 2023

Today is Sunday 10 September, beginning the 23rd week of Ordinary time.

The community of Taizé sing, Jésus le Christ: ‘Jesus Christ, inner light, do not let my darkness speak to me. Jesus Christ, inner light, let me welcome your love.’

(Lyrics currently unavailable)

Today’s reading is from St Paul’s letter to the Romans.


Romans 13:8-10

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet’; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

In these few verses, Paul is repeating the words of Jesus, He captures the essence of Christian living - a life rooted in love, bound by compassion, and devoted to serving one another. He gives this to his community. How do you see this being lived out in your community of faith?

‘Love is the fulfilling of the law.’ How do you respond to this idea of a divine commandment?

Paul refers to the commandment to "Love your neighbour as yourself." To extend love even to those who are different from us, to strangers, to the marginalized, and to our perceived enemies. In doing so, we reflect the boundless love of God that embraces all of humanity. How do you respond to this command? How might you love those who are not easy to love?

As we listen again, take a moment to reflect on how you can embody these verses in your life.


In this time of prayer, call on the grace of God, to share your feelings of a love that is transformative, healing wounds, restoring hope.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.