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 5:1-69 and Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48. The Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 19 (Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-14). 

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

YouTube: The Precepts of the Lord Give Joy to the Heart. Psalm 19 (B085)

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: Salesian Sunday Reflections: Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time September 26, 2021

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (September 26, 2021)

Community in Mission: Of Friends and Foes: A Homily for the 26th Sunday of the Year (25 SEP 21)

Crossroads Initiative: Surpass the Pharisees - Cut it Off!

St. Paul Center: To Belong to Christ: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Twenty-sixth Sunday Ordinary Time

Magis Center for Catholic Spirituality: Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Gregorian Institute at Benedictine College: This Sunday, His Friend Is My Friend; His Enemy Is My Foe (23 SEP 21)

Word on Fire: We Just Don't Get It (Cycle B * Ordinary Time * Week 26)

National Catholic Register: Sunday Guide: All the People of the Lord Are Prophets Now (23 SEP 21)

Spirituality of the Readings: The Inside Story (26th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year B)

In Exile: Prophecy - Challenge and Comfort (26th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year B)

Glancing Thoughts: Tribalism (26th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year B)

The Perspective of Justice: At the Same Table (26th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year B)

Let the Scriptures Speak: Psychic Surgery? (26th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year B)

The Word Embodied: Perils of Wealth (26th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year B)

Historical Cultural Context: Importance of Loyalty (26th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year B) 

Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by Symeon the New Theologian (26th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year B)