Just Look

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Ezekiel 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 Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. (6a) 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 your mercies, O Lord.
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. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
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. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
 

Reading 2 Philippians 2:1-11

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.
 

or Philippians 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.
 

Alleluia John 10:27

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
 

Gospel Matthew 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."


 

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Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Just Look

September 28, 2026 // Monday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time // Optional Memorial of Saint Lawrence Ruiz and companions, martyrs 

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Psalm from the Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Lawrence Ruiz and companions:  Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9   

Reflect on the Word // 

“Can we play church?” 

The question came from my eight-year-old niece, who, along with her younger brother, had followed me upstairs to my bedroom, a space that had become more of a mini chapel than a place to repose for the night. This wasn’t the first time she and my nephew had engaged in sacred play, but it had been a while, and I welcomed any opportunity to plant the seeds of divine growth in their young, spongy hearts.  

After dressing up for “Mass” in the perfect, grown-up skirt and sweater from my closet, my niece blessed herself from the holy water font hanging near my bedroom doorway. But instead of picking up a Bible or my breviary to thumb through like she usually did, she simply knelt in front of my home altar to pray. Unprompted, my nephew began to imitate her, but when his sister arose, he stayed on his knees in silence, eyes fixed on the ornate crucifix in the center.  

My heart melted as I watched him, and when he got up a few moments later, he smiled shyly and said, “I was just looking at Him.” 

My nephew’s words are the perfect response to the Psalmist’s instruction today: “Look to him that you may be radiant with joy” (Psalm 34:6). A mere look may not seem like much, dearest sister, but when we look to Him, the fire of divine love looks back at us, with power to heal, redeem, and cast its holy glow on whatever hurts our hearts carry. Indeed, a single glance in His direction can deliver us from all our fears (see Psalm 34:5). Even when our eyes drift, the divine gaze of God never leaves. So, let’s allow the radiance of His gaze to shine on our souls and reflect brilliantly onto our families, our communities, our churches, our world. Let’s bask in the joy that comes from knowing and seeing Jesus in our lives.  

And like my nephew, let’s keep looking at Him so that others can see Jesus more clearly in us.  

Relate to the Lord // Look at Jesus today, whether in sacred art, on a crucifix, or in the Blessed Sacrament. 

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