Posted: 9/5/2026 9:20:56 AM EDT
 Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 127 6 SEPT 2026 A.D.  Reading 1 Ezekiel 33:7-9 Thus says the LORD: You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel; when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me. If I tell the wicked, "O wicked one, you shall surely die, " and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way, the wicked shall die for his guilt, but I will hold you responsible for his death. But if you warn the wicked, trying to turn him from his way, and he refuses to turn from his way, he shall die for his guilt, but you shall save yourself. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD; let us acclaim the rock of our salvation. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us joyfully sing psalms to him. R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD who made us. For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides. R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Oh, that today you would hear his voice: "Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, where your fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works." R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.  Reading 2 Romans 13:8-10 Brothers and sisters: Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet, " and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.  Alleluia 2 Corinthians 5:19 R. Alleluia, alleluia. God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Matthew 18:15-20 Jesus said to his disciples: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that 'every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."  Overview of the Gospel: • Since last Sunday’s gospel (Matthew 16:21-27), the readings have skipped over Matthew, chapter 17, which included an account of Jesus’ Transfiguration (verses 1-8) and a second prediction of his Passion (verses 22-23). • In the present chapter, Jesus is questioned by his disciples about the nature of the kingdom of heaven (verse 1). After warnings against seeking after rank or importance rather than humility (verses 1-5) and being a source of scandal to those who are the object of God’s loving concern (verses 6-14), Jesus sets forth a process for dealing with conflict and disagreements within the Church. • The Greek word (elegxon) translated as “tell him his fault” in the New American Bible (verse 15) has the meaning “to rebuke in order to expose sin and bring correction.” Thus, it is to be a fraternal correction, for the good of the person. It is also private to avoid scandal and to protect the good name of the innocent. • Failing that, two witnesses are brought in (per Deuteronomy 19:15-16) with the hope the influence of good friends or respected persons may have an effect. As a last resort (verse 17) judicial correction (i.e. excommunication) may be made by reference to the Church authorities. As in verse 15, this is not a means of punishment, but of fraternal correction. • Jesus makes it plain (here and in Matthew 16:18) that he has given the leaders of his Church authority to make decisions in these matters that are ratified by God (verse 18). [special thanks to Vince Contreras: Scripture Study -- Year A] "...If they still refuse to listen, treat them as you would an outsider, meaning they are removed from fellowship...." |