An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - September 13, 2026
“I SAY TO YOU, NOT SEVEN TIMES BUT SEVENTY-SEVEN TIMES”
Last Sunday's readings reminded us of our God-given responsibility to care for and correct one another in love. This Sunday, that theme is brought to its natural fulfillment in our duty to forgive others, always.
In our first reading (Sirach 27:30 - 28:7), the author, Yeshua ben Sira, teaches us that the refusal to forgive, clinging to "wrath and anger”, are in themselves sinful acts. “Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the LORD?” This reading could be called the Old Testament parallel of Jesus’ parable of the merciless servant that we hear in today’s Gospel. The themes are very similar – we have a duty to forgive others just as the Father forgives us.
Our Epistle reading (Romans 14:7-9) is short passage, probably taken from a poem or song. It underscores the transcendent nature of our relationship with Christ. It should comfort us to know that the dead belong to the Lord as much as the living. “For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”
In our Gospel passage (Matthew 18:21-35), we hear a continuation of last Sunday's Gospel, where Jesus instructed His disciples on the process of reconciliation and then gave them the authority to “bind and to loose”. In the very next sentence, Peter asked Jesus how often must he forgive others, “As many as seven times?” Jesus' answer probably shocked him, as it went far beyond what would have been Jewish custom of the time (seven-fold forgiveness). "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.“ Then Jesus told His disciples the parable of the Unforgiving Servant, where the master forgave him an enormous debt and then that servant refused to forgive a much smaller debt from a fellow servant.
Forgiveness is the opposite of vengeance; you can't have both at the same time. When we find ourselves resentful that we must forgive someone over and over for the same offense, it might do us good to consider that our Father in heaven has already forgiven us far more and far more often than we could ever repay. When we are “slow to anger and rich in Compassion”, we are imitating God.
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091326.cfm
An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - September 6, 2026
“Owe Nothing To Anyone, Except To Love One Another”
One message that could come from our readings this Sunday is, "We are our brothers and sisters keeper". Our readings today focus on our God-given duty to love, to care for and to correct one another, in a spirit of love and reconciliation. God will hold us directly responsible if we do not.
In our first reading (Ezekiel 33:7-9), God appointed the prophet Ezekiel to be “watchman for the house of Israel”. God said to Ezekiel, “If I tell the wicked, ‘O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way, the wicked shall die for his guilt, but I will hold you responsible for his death.” God held Ezekiel personally responsible if he did not warn the people of their evil ways.
In our Epistle reading (Romans 13:8-10), St. Paul continues his exhortation of last week to "offer your bodies as a living sacrifice" by telling us how we should do that -- to live in love and to love one another. Paul wrote, “Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” He reminds us that all violations of the law have at their root a failure to love one another. It is this love that drives our desire for reconciliation and concern for each other and it is this love that drives us for union and reconciliation with our Lord.
In our Gospel reading (Matthew 18:15-20), Jesus lays out the proper order of reconciliation back to the Church for someone who has fallen. First, one-to-one, privately; then with a few trusted witnesses, and if still unsuccessful, with the whole Church. As in our first reading, the goal is reconciliation, not condemnation. Then, Jesus gave His disciples the authority to reconcile sinners.
Have we ever judged others' wrongdoing out of a sense of superiority or self-righteousness? The duty to correct must be borne out of love, not judgement, and done as privately as possible. This is certainly how we would like to be treated if we have wronged someone. How do we measure up to this ideal? Possibly food for thought this week.
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090626.cfm
An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - August 30, 2026
“Whoever Loses His Life For My Sake Will Find It”
Today, we hear a tale of two suffering servants, both answering the call of God. The first, Jeremiah, cried out in anguish of the pain and rejection from his people, yet discovered he could not refuse God’s call, “It burns like fire in my heart.” The second, Jesus, embraces His passion and willingly goes to the place of His suffering and calls His disciples to imitate him. Both are examples for us today.
In our first reading (Jeremiah 20:7-9), we hear the powerful lament of the prophet Jeremiah, who suffered greatly because of what God had called him to do. He felt “duped” by God because he thought his call would be without suffering. “All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me.” He tried to quit but discovered “it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in.” He must continue speaking out God's truth, regardless of the cost.
In our Epistle reading (Romans 12:1-2), St. Paul teaches us just how it is that we are to take up our cross and carry it—by following Jesus example, offering "our bodies as a living sacrifice . . . That you may discern what is the will of God.”
In our Gospel reading (Matthew 16:211-27), Jesus teaches us the mystery of suffering. You may remember that in last week's Gospel, Peter was elevated to the "rock" upon whom Jesus would build His Church. In this very next passage in today's Gospel, Jesus rebukes Peter for suggesting that Jesus must not suffer and be killed, as He had described to His disciples, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.” Here, we see a very human Peter fearful and resisting, but not Jesus. Jesus understood what Peter and Jeremiah, did not, "Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it".
To most people, it would seem unthinkable to live our lives in "derision and reproach" for speaking the truth of God. Few of us would embrace our suffering, whatever it might be, and take up our cross willingly as an offering to God. But that may be precisely what the Holy Spirit is calling us to do in today's readings. When and if we do, we may very well discover, as Jeremiah did, that it "burns like fire in our hearts" as we "grow weary holding it in." In so doing, we may actually find our life.
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/083026.cfm
An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - August 23, 2026
“Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church”
Our readings for this Sunday teach us the foundation of the office of Pope (Papa / Father) and its ancient Jewish roots. The office of Pope, granted to Peter, is a direct commission by Jesus. However, it also has its roots in the Jewish royal office of ‘al Bayit” or “father over the house”.
Our first reading (Isaiah 20:19-23)is the account of the replacing of Shebna as master of the palace (of the kingdom of Judah) with Eliakim. In this passage, we hear virtually the same duties and authorities that are given to Simon Peter by Jesus. His is the father to the people, he has authority over them, he is second only to the king, has the “key of the House of David”, and has the power to open and to close—bind and loose. Even the vestments of robe, sash, and keys remain today with our Pope.
In our Epistle reading (Romans 11:33-36), St. Paul concludes his long lament that he is heartbroken at the rejection of Jesus by his brethren but sees it as God’s pathway to including the Gentiles in his salvation plan. Paul celebrates the wisdom of God’s plan of salvation and can only marvel at the "inscrutable judgements" of the Lord. The wisdom of God’s plan for salvation is so far beyond our understanding, we can only marvel at its invitation to faith. Glory to God!
In our Gospel reading (Matthew 16:13—20), Jesus went to the region of Caesarea Philippi and asked His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?". Many are not lost to the irony that Jesus went to Caesarea Philippi, a prominent monument to King Caesar, to ask this question. Their responses indicated that the people understood that Jesus was no ordinary man, at least on a level with the prophets of old. Peter's response was that Jesus was not only the Messiah, the Anointed One, but He is the “Son of the living God”. Jesus appointed Peter to the office of prime minister of His Church on earth and gave him the “keys to the kingdom of heaven”, with the same powers and authority granted to the ancient ‘al Bayit’ or ‘Father Over the House’ of the kingdom of Judah.
Imagine what would have happened to Christianity if the office granted to Peter had ended when he died and there was no succession, no continuance of the role of Jesus’ designated representative on earth.
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082326.cfm
An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - August 16, 2026
“My House Shall Be Called A House Of Prayer For All Peoples”
Our readings for this Sunday teach us about the wideness of God’s mercy—that one day, all peoples, all nations will be included in the Kingdom of God. But there was an order to salvation in that first Israel, then the Gentiles.
In our first reading (Isaiah 56:1,6-7), the prophet Isaiah tells of the future time when all peoples (including all Gentiles) who "join themselves to the Lord" will be welcomed into the house of the Lord. In biblical language, the term “nations” or “peoples” usually refers to the Gentile, non-Jewish world. It is a time when all people, Jew and non-Jew, will worship the Lord and minister to the Lord equally.
In our Epistle reading (Romans 11:13-15, 29-32), St. Paul is writing to the mixed Church in Rome of Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians. In this passage, Paul describes the duality of his mission. Yes, he is the “Apostle to the Gentiles” but also so that they will serve as an example to his fellow Jews—”I glory in my ministry in order to make my race jealous and thus save some of them.” If you remember in last week’s Epistle, St. Paul talked about his anguish that his fellow Jews rejected Jesus as the Christ. So yes, his mission is to the Gentile world, but he never loses sight of his desire to bring Christ to his fellow Jews.
Our Gospel reading (Matthew 15:21-28), is the seemingly rude transaction between a Canaanite (Gentile) woman and Jesus, who ignored her plea for help; and at one point even likening her to a dog. But her faith and persistence triumphed and Jesus granted her request to save her daughter from the demon. Jesus used the encounter as a teaching moment to highlight that there is an order to salvation—Israel first, Gentiles second. This Canaanite woman, in a sense, modeled Isaiah’s prophesy in our first reading, in that she joins herself to the Lord, and thus is welcomed by Jesus. Jesus also used her as an example in patience and persistence in prayer.
Most of our ancestors were once Gentiles (non-Jews) who worshiped other gods. And at some point, through the efforts of St. Paul and so many others, and the courageous witness of the martyrs, they came to "join themselves to the Lord". And thus we have come into the wideness of God's mercy. May we lead others to that same mercy through our example and witness.
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081626.cfm
An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - August 9, 2026
“Take Courage, It Is I; Do Not Be Afraid”
This Sunday, our readings describe for us two theophanies, or manifestations, of God. God is in the “tiny whispering sound” in our first reading. He also appears to the apostles walking on the water as He calms the raging sea.
Our first reading (1 Kings 19:9,11-13)is the story of Elijah’s journey to Mount Horeb, which began as a flight from the evil queen Jezebel. The prophet made his solitary way to Mount Horeb where the Lord had once appeared to Moses and the Israelites. Elijah was told to “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” God appeared to Elijah, but not in the wind, or earthquake, or the fire as He did with Moses. God appeared in the “tiny whispering sound”.
In our Epistle reading (Romans 9:1-5), St. Paul shares his anguish over many of his brethren who had rejected Jesus. The Israelites were God’s chosen people. The final and greatest gift to these chosen people was the Messiah, one of their own flesh. As Paul wrote, “I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people…”
Our Gospel reading (Matthew 14:22-33)is the account of Jesus walking on the raging sea, immediately following the miracle of feeding the five thousand. It is a clear manifestation of Jesus’ divinity and He is recognized as such by the apostles in the boat as they proclaim, “truly, you are the Son of God.” An additional level is Peter’s exuberance as he walked on the water to Jesus—until he was overcome by his doubt and fear.
He took his eyes off Jesus and paid more mind to the raging storm around him. That’s when he began to sink, but a simple call to his Master—”Jesus save me” was all it took to be rescued. We are reminded that God can come to us as a “tiny whispering sound” or in the midst of the raging storm around us, saying “take courage, it is I, do not be afraid.” We look for God in both places. We can learn from Peter’s faith as he got out of the boat and walked to Jesus. We can also relate to his lack of faith as he began to doubt and sink. How often do we have that same sinking feeling when we take our eyes off Jesus? We can also lament, as Peter did in our Epistle, about loved ones who may have rejected Christ. We can only trust in Jesus, that He is there in the midst of their storm, saying to them, “Take courage, it is I.”
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080926.cfm