Posted: 8/29/2026 7:57:27 AM EDT
 Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 124 30 AUG 2026 A.D.  Reading 1 Jeremiah 20:7-9 You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped; you were too strong for me, and you triumphed. All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me. Whenever I speak, I must cry out, violence and outrage is my message; the word of the LORD has brought me derision and reproach all the day. I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.  Responsorial Psalm Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. O God, you are my God whom I seek; for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary to see your power and your glory, for your kindness is a greater good than life; my lips shall glorify you. R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. Thus will I bless you while I live; lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name. As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied, and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you. R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. You are my help, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy. My soul clings fast to you; your right hand upholds me. R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.  Reading 2 Romans 12:1-2 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.  Alleluia Ephesians 1:17-18 R. Alleluia, alleluia. May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to our call. R. Alleluia, alleluia.  Gospel Matthew 16:21-27 Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, "God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory, and then he will repay all according to his conduct."  Overview of the Gospel: • Last Sunday we heard about Peter’s profession of faith in Jesus as the Messiah, and Jesus’ designation of Peter as the rock upon which he will build his Church (verse 18). • Jesus immediately follows this with the first of three predictions he will make of his Passion, death and Resurrection (verse 21. See also Matthew 17:22 and 20:17-19). • Peter, taking his newly defined pre-eminence to heart, proceeds to forcefully contest with Jesus’ in an attempt to deter him from his stated path. In response, Jesus likens Peter’s attempts to Satan’s efforts to tempt him away from his mission (see Matthew 4:1-11)! • Jesus makes clear that, not only is it necessary for him to embrace his Cross to fulfill what the Father sent him to do, but it is the call of the disciple to take up his own cross everyday and follow Jesus (Mt 10:38-39; Luke 14:27; John 12:24-25; Romans 8:17). The cross in that time and place was a well-known instrument of torture and death, and no further details or explanation was needed! • Jesus concludes by connecting one’s faithfulness in bearing their own cross, to their eternal reward (verses 25-27. See also Matthew 25:31-46; 1 John 2:28; Romans 2:6-8; Revelation 22:12). [special thanks to Vince Contreras: Scripture Study -- Year A]  "You shall as his true disciple, follow him, and with your good will, without grudge, do as he did and take your cross of pain upon your back, and die for the truth with him, and thereby reign with him, crowned in eternal glory. ~St. Thomas More, martyr, in a letter to his eldest daughter, Meg |