Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time

• First Reading – Romans 8:12-17: We’re not bound to live by the flesh. Living by the Spirit leads to life and confirms our adoption as God’s children. We are heirs with Christ, destined for glory if we suffer with Him.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 68: God scatters his enemies and protects the just. He provides for orphans and widows, and leads the forsaken to prosperity. He bears our burdens and controls death.
• Gospel – Luke 13:10-17: Jesus heals a crippled woman in a synagogue on the Sabbath. The synagogue leader criticizes him for healing on a day meant for rest. Jesus counters, arguing that if animals can be tended to on the Sabbath, then surely a suffering woman can be healed. The crowd supports Jesus.

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.

Luke 13:10-11

On Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1, we are reminded of God’s call to live in the Spirit and to follow Jesus’ teachings of mercy. The readings encourage us to see ourselves as children of God, free from the burdens of sin and fear.

• Life in the Spirit: Paul tells us that we are called to live according to the Spirit, not according to our selfish desires. This new life brings us peace and helps us overcome sin.
• Freedom from Fear: Paul reminds us that we have not received a spirit of fear. Through Christ, we are adopted as God’s children and can trust in His love.
• God’s Mercy and Healing: In the Gospel, Jesus heals a woman who was suffering for many years. His act shows that God wants to free us from our burdens and offer healing.
• The Sabbath and Compassion: Jesus teaches that the Sabbath is a time for helping others. He shows us that compassion is at the heart of God’s law.
• Sons and Daughters of God: Paul calls us “heirs of God” and “co-heirs with Christ,” reminding us of our place in God’s family. This identity gives us strength and purpose.
• Faith Over Legalism: Jesus challenges those who put rules above love. He calls us to put mercy before strict laws when helping others.

These themes on Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1, help us remember God’s mercy and the call to live as His children. Through the Spirit, we find freedom, healing, and a deeper relationship with God.

On Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1, the readings invite us to live as God’s children, filled with the Spirit and guided by compassion. We see how Paul and Jesus show the beauty of living in freedom, letting go of fear, and choosing mercy over strict rules. These themes remind us of the love that God offers, calling us to follow His way and extend this love to others.

Being Children of God

On Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1, we are reminded that to be a child of God means we are loved and cared for by Him. In Paul’s message, he speaks of our adoption as God’s children, which brings us close to Him. We don’t have to live in fear because God has welcomed us as His family, giving us the courage to live freely and faithfully.

Being part of God’s family changes how we see ourselves and others. When we understand we are God’s children, we feel a sense of peace and strength. We trust that God knows our needs and walks with us. This relationship gives us confidence and helps us grow in faith, even during hard times.

Knowing we are God’s children also encourages us to live in a way that reflects this gift. Paul calls us to make choices that follow the Spirit rather than selfish desires. When we let God guide our decisions, we live with more purpose, treating others with kindness and compassion. Being a child of God helps us love others and find joy in serving them.

Compassion Over Rules

In the Gospel for Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1, Jesus heals a woman on the Sabbath, showing that helping others is more important than following strict rules. Many people were surprised that He would act this way on the Sabbath, a day of rest. But Jesus shows that caring for someone in need is always good, no matter the rules. His compassion teaches us to see people first, rather than getting caught up in strict rules.

This story encourages us to put love and mercy at the heart of all we do. Jesus shows us that laws and rules should help people, not keep them from receiving help. When we act with compassion, we are honoring the deeper purpose of God’s laws, which is to love others. By following Jesus’ example, we are reminded to look beyond the rules when someone needs care.

In our own lives, we may face choices where we feel torn between strict rules and helping others. Jesus’ actions encourage us to choose mercy. Loving others should be at the center of our lives, guiding us in every decision. On Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1, we see that Jesus calls us to look for ways to serve others in need, even when it’s challenging.

Living in Freedom

Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1, calls us to live freely in the Spirit. Paul speaks about the freedom that comes when we follow the Spirit instead of selfish desires. Living in this freedom means we are no longer held back by fear or habits that keep us from God. Instead, we live in a way that shows we belong to Him, following His guidance in everything.

This freedom gives us the courage to act with love and trust in God’s care. In the Gospel, Jesus frees the woman from her illness, showing that God wants us to be free from burdens. This freedom from both physical and spiritual burdens helps us see God’s care and love in a new way.

When we live in the Spirit, we are not trapped by fear or doubts. We learn to trust God, just as the woman in the Gospel trusted Jesus to heal her. Each day, we are called to open our hearts to God’s guidance, letting go of the things that hold us back. On Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1, we are reminded that this freedom in the Spirit brings us closer to God and helps us serve others with love.

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On Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1, we learn that God’s love frees us, heals us, and leads us to live with mercy toward others. Each of us is invited to remember our place as God’s children, relying on the Spirit to guide us and looking to Jesus as our example of compassion. In this way, we find strength and purpose, ready to live in faith each day.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for calling us as Your children. Help us live in Your Spirit, free from fear and guided by love. Teach us to show mercy like Jesus and to trust in Your care always. May we bring Your peace to those we meet. Amen.

Reflection Questions

• How can I live each day knowing I am a child of God?
• Where can I show compassion to others, even when it’s difficult?
• What habits or fears keep me from living in the Spirit?
• How can I follow Jesus’ example of mercy over rules in my relationships?

Word on Fire: The Healing Power of Faith

In his reflection for Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1, Bishop Robert Barron describes the healing power flowing from faith. He explains how, through Jesus and the saints, God’s strength has healed people in body and spirit. Christians can act as channels for this power, bringing healing and peace. True spiritual healing, he says, opens the soul to God’s presence, available to us in Scripture, the liturgy, and the sacraments. This power connects us with the life and Spirit of Jesus, who reconciles us with God and brings new life into our souls.

USCCB Reflection: Don’t Delay Healing and Mercy

In a USCCB video reflection for Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1, Msgr. James Vlaun reflects on how Jesus healed a woman sick for 18 years, challenging the leader who objected due to the Sabbath. Msgr. Vlaun compares this to times we put off important acts—apologies, help, or visits—due to busyness. He urges us to let go of long-lasting burdens like anger or guilt, instead choosing healing and compassion without delay. We’re called to prioritize mercy and act when needed, trusting that healing, like miracles, is available at any moment.

What date is Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

The next date is Monday October 27, 2025.

Cycle 1 is used in odd numbered years and Cycle 2 is used in even numbered years. The gospel is the same for both years. For even numbered years see Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2.

What are the Mass readings for Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

The Mass readings for Monday October 27, 2025 are:
First Reading – Romans 8:12-17: Spirit-led Living
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 68: God of Salvation
Gospel – Luke 13:10-17: Sabbath Healing

How can we overcome fear as Paul describes in the first reading for Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

Paul explains that, as children of God, we do not need to live in fear. We can trust God’s love, knowing He is always there to guide and protect us.

Why does Paul say we should live by the Spirit and not by our selfish desires?

Paul teaches that living by the Spirit means following God’s way instead of our own selfish desires. He encourages us to let go of habits that keep us away from God and focus on actions that bring us closer to Him.

What does it mean to be a child of God?

To be a child of God means that we are loved and cared for by Him. This relationship gives us peace and strength, knowing that God is with us in every part of our lives.

How does being heirs with Christ affect us?

Being heirs with Christ means we share in God’s blessings and promises. This gives us hope, knowing we are part of God’s family and that He has a good plan for us.

How does Paul’s message apply to our daily lives?

Paul encourages us to live in a way that reflects our identity as children of God. We can do this by choosing actions that show love, kindness, and trust in God.

Why does Jesus heal the woman on the Sabbath in the Gospel for Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

Jesus heals the woman on the Sabbath to show that helping others is more important than strict rules. His action shows us that love and compassion should guide our choices.

What does Jesus want us to learn from His healing on the Sabbath?

Jesus wants us to understand that mercy is at the heart of God’s law. He shows that helping someone in need is always good, even on the Sabbath.

What does the reading teach about God’s mercy?

The Gospel reading shows that God’s mercy reaches out to heal and free us from burdens. It reminds us that God’s compassion can restore us, even when we feel weak.

Why did some people criticize Jesus for healing on the Sabbath?

Some people thought healing was work and should not be done on the Sabbath. Jesus corrected them, showing that caring for others is more important than strict rules.

How can we follow Jesus’ example from this Gospel for Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

We can follow Jesus’ example by helping others and being compassionate, even when it is challenging. We are called to put love and mercy first, just as Jesus did.