Sunday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time
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Mass Readings
First Reading – Ez 18:25-28
Thus says the LORD: You say, “The LORD’s way is not fair!” Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair? When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. But if he turns from the wickedness he has committed, and does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; since he has turned away from all the sins that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (R.6a)
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me Your paths,
guide me in Your truth and teach me,
for You are God my savior. R.
Remember that Your compassion, O LORD,
and Your love are from of old.
The sins of my youth and my frailties remember not;
in Your kindness remember me,
because of Your goodness, O LORD. R.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus He shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble His way. R.
Second Reading – Phil 2:1-11 or Phil 2:1-5
[Brothers and sisters: If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also for those of others. Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus], Who, though He was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, 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 which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Gospel – Mt 21:28-32
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir, ‘but did not go. Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.”
Featured Saints
Sunday has precedence over the Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul, priest (†1660). With profound charity, he dedicated himself to untiring apostolate with the poor, founding the Congregation of the Mission (Lazarists) and, together with St. Louise de Marillac, the Daughters of Charity.St. Bonfilius, bishop (†c.1115). After having governed the see of Foligno, Italy, he spent ten years in the Holy Land; upon his return he retired to the monastery of Storaco, where he died.
St. Elzear of Sabran (†1323). Baron of Ansouis, commander of troops, defender of the Pope, he, together with Blessed Delphie, his spouse, preserved his virginity and practised all the virtues, following the rule of the Franciscan Third Order.
Sts. Adolphus and John, martrys (+824). They were the sons of a Muslim and a Christian. For refusing to renounce their Faith, the were martyred in Cordoba during the reign of Abd al-Rahman II.
St. Hiltrude, virgin (†c.800). She consecrated herself to God and spent seventeen years in recollection near the Benedictine abbey of Liesseis, France, of which her brother was abbot.
Blessed Lawrence of Ripafratta, priest (†1456). Dominican religious of the monastery of Pistoia, Italy, who observed religious discipline for sixty years and dedicated himself to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Blessed Jean-Baptiste Laborier du Vivier, deacon and martyr (†1794). During the French Revolution, he was condemned to cruel captivity on a ship in the harbour of Rochefort, where he died from illness resulting from the deplorable conditions.
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