The Motives of Our Hearts

Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Brothers and sisters:
Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ
and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Now it is of course required of stewards
that they be found trustworthy.
It does not concern me in the least
that I be judged by you or any human tribunal;
I do not even pass judgment on myself;
I am not conscious of anything against me,
but I do not thereby stand acquitted;
the one who judges me is the Lord.
Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time,
until the Lord comes,
for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness
and will manifest the motives of our hearts,
and then everyone will receive praise from God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 37:3-4, 5-6, 27-28, 39-40

R. (39a) The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Trust in the LORD and do good,
that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will grant you your heart’s requests.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Commit to the LORD your way;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make justice dawn for you like the light;
bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Turn from evil and do good,
that you may abide forever;
For the LORD loves what is right,
and forsakes not his faithful ones.
Criminals are destroyed
and the posterity of the wicked is cut off.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
The salvation of the just is from the LORD;
he is their refuge in time of distress.
And the LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

Alleluia John 8:12

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 5:33-39

The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus,
“The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers,
and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same;
but yours eat and drink.”
Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast
while the bridegroom is with them?
But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
then they will fast in those days.”
And he also told them a parable.
“No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one.
Otherwise, he will tear the new
and the piece from it will not match the old cloak.
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins,
and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined.
Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins.
And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new,
for he says, ‘The old is good.’”

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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.

September 4, 2026 // Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Reflect on the Word //

Raised voices came from the kitchen, a sound of bickering yet again: a frequent sound in a home full of teenage girls. As their mother, I found myself criticizing and correcting, yet again. However, as I walked into the room, I discovered that the girls were not truly bickering, but engaged in a lively discussion. Another time, what seemed like a criticism from one girl to another was actually intended to be helpful (though unsolicited) advice. Tones of voice and intention are hard to interpret, especially among people who love each other.

In today’s First Reading, Saint Paul writes to the Corinthians about not passing judgment on others and on oneself. True charity gives the benefit of the doubt—believes that the other does not intend to hurt oneself or another with their words. The Lord, when He comes, “will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts” (1 Corinthians 4:5). He knows the true intentions in each of us, the desire we have to love and be loved in return. It is just that so often, even when we try to express something with love, it comes out all wrong. But Paul states that in the end “everyone will receive praise from God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).

Sister, the Lord is so merciful to us. He sees us for who we really are and for who He calls us to be. He is the kind of Father Who sees what is good in us even when it seems impossible to find. We are meant to be like Him in how we view others and ourselves. When we repent of our wrong doings, we must also allow the Lord to show us our own goodness and let His mercy wash over us. And when we think we see sin in others, we need to show them the same mercy that is shown to us. We do not know the motives of their hearts or for what they will receive praise from God.

Relate to the Lord // Notice both your words and tone today. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you practice charity in all of your interactions.

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About Susanna Spencer

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Susanna Spencer est titulaire d'une maîtrise en théologie de l'Université franciscaine de Steubenville et est l'éditrice théologique de Blessed is She. Elle vit avec son mari philosophe et ses quatre enfants à Saint Paul, Minnesota. Elle aime lire la théologie, assister à de belles liturgies, cuisiner de délicieux plats et suivre le baseball avec désinvolture. Elle était la narratrice de Maranatha, L'histoire de notre Sauveur et de notre livre pour enfants, Rise Up . En savoir plus sur elle ici .