Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today the Church celebrates the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The assigned readings are Numbers 11:25-29; James 5:1-6; and Matthew 9:38-43, 45, 47-48. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 19 (Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-14).

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 19 The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart

The Gospel reading is as follows:

At that time, John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”

Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward. Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’”

Reflections on these readings:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (September 30, 2012)

Msgr. Charles Pope: The Prophet Is In. A Meditation on the Gospel for the 26th Sunday of the Year (29 SEP 12)

Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio: Taking Aggressive Action

A Concord Pastor Comments: The scriptures or the tickle and tease of a scrap? - Homily for the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (29 SEP 12)

The Deacon’s Bench: Homily for September 30, 2012: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (29 SEP 12)

Father James | Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Author: Professional Catholic (28 SEP 12)

Dr. Scott Hahn: To Belong to Christ (September 30th 2012 - Twenty-sixth Sunday Ordinary Time)

The Lectionary: Avoid jealousy, rejoice in God’s spirit (27 SEP 12)

The Word Encountered: Perils of Wealth (Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time B)