Texts taken from the “On Your Word” Daily Missal September-October 2023
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
2nd week of the Psalter
FIRST READING
From the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ez 18:25-28)
Thus says the Lord: “You say, ‘The Lord’s way is not fair.’ Hear now, house of Israel: Is my way not fair, or rather, are your ways not fair? If the righteous person turns away from righteousness and commits iniquity and dies because of it, he dies because of the iniquity he committed. And if the wicked person turns away from the wickedness he committed and does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life. Since he has considered and turned away from all the transgressions he committed, he shall surely live and not die.” – The Word of the Lord.
Commentary on the First Reading
Chapter 18 of the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel, from which this Sunday’s first reading is taken, addresses the theme of the sinner’s personal responsibility. In Israel’s theological vision, there was the idea that the punishment for the sins of the fathers was borne by their children and their children’s children for an indefinite number of generations. At a certain point, however, the people saw that this was not so and regarded it as a scandal; they no longer understood God’s actions and began to question them. In reality, God wants to help the people of Israel understand the importance of personal responsibility in the face of the choices they make: no one can blame others for their own damnation or credit others with their salvation. This is also a great lesson for us: Heaven or Hell is not a matter of good or bad luck. On the contrary, each person is already building their eternal future here on earth. Therefore, we must ask God for the gift of perseverance and do everything possible to remain faithful to his love, so that one day we may contemplate his face.
SECOND READING
From the Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Philippians (Phil 2:1-11)
Brothers and sisters, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and compassion, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being united in heart and mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vainglory, but, in humility, regard others as more important than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus: who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, becoming like human beings. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess: “Jesus Christ is Lord!”, to the glory of God the Father. – The Word of the Lord.
Commentary on the Second Reading
Paul explicitly asks the Philippians to complete his joy by being of the same mind and having the same love, remaining united and harmonious. As a shepherd, he knew that this is the way of Jesus and the grace Jesus asked the Father for his disciples: unity and harmony. This harmony is a grace given by the Holy Spirit, but we must do everything on our part to help him create this harmony in the Church. Paul urges them to do nothing out of rivalry and not to fight against one another. Rivalry and vainglory are two pests that eat away at the Church’s substance and make it weak, because they oppose harmony and concord. To avoid falling into these temptations, Paul advises them to regard others as superior to themselves, not to seek their own interests, but also those of others. Therefore, the first thing to do is to seek the good of others and serve them. The charity Paul asks for rejects utilitarianism: humbly do good to others and consider them, in your heart, better than yourself.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 21:28-32)
At that time, Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ He replied, ‘I will not.’ But afterward he changed his mind and went. The man went to the other and said the same. He replied, ‘Yes, sir.’ But he did not go. Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered: “The first.” And Jesus said to them: “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. Yet even when you saw that, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.” – The Gospel of the Lord.
Commentary on the Gospel of the Day
Jesus presents the chief priests and elders of the people with a story to reflect on. He tells them about two sons whose father asks them to go and work in the vineyard. One says that he does not feel like going, but then goes. The other, instead, says he will go, but then does not; he does not obey. Jesus asks his listeners to give their opinion, and at this point the harsh judgment comes. Jesus also gives the reason for it: unlike them, the tax collectors and prostitutes listened to the Lord’s voice and accepted his correction. God does not want the hypocrisy of those who are scandalized by Jesus’ behavior toward tax collectors and prostitutes, but then secretly go to them to indulge their passions or conduct business. This judgment, which the liturgy invites us to reflect on today, gives us hope when we look at our sins. For we are all sinners. Each of us knows the list of our own sins well, but knows that we can offer them to the Lord. When we are able to hand over to the Lord the evil within us, then we will belong to that beautiful people, humble and poor, who trust in the name of the Lord and experience his salvation.
