September 27, 2026 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel: Matthew 21:28–32
Today is the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The passage from the Gospel of Matthew tells us a parable that Jesus spoke. In this parable, Jesus describes the different responses of two sons to their father’s request. Let us try to understand it.
Jesus said, “A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ The son replied, ‘I will not.’ But afterwards, he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second son and gave the same order. He replied, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go.” (Cf. Matthew 21:28–30)
As I write this reflection, I think of the many insincere situations in our lives: we often, not wanting to disappoint others, agree to their requests, but afterwards fail to keep our promises. This is exactly what the second son did—saying “yes” with his mouth but not moving his feet.
What impressed me even more was a scene I witnessed in parish ministry: Once, a pastor asked a server to prepare the liturgical items and the Missal for the patronal feast. At first, because he was busy and in a bad mood, the server directly said to the pastor, “I don’t have time, ask someone else.” He refused to his face. But later, he reflected in prayer and realized that this was an opportunity to serve the Church. So he prepared the Missal a week in advance, and on the day before the feast, he took the initiative to coordinate with the pastor, properly arranging the seating for the servers and the concelebrating priests on the altar that day. This is exactly what the first son in today’s Gospel did—he said “no” to his face but later changed his mind and made up for it with action.
So, what exactly does Jesus want to tell us by telling this parable? Jesus is not simply asking us to be “consistent in word and deed.” He immediately applies this parable to the religious leaders and ordinary sinners of His time. Those religious leaders, who said “yes” to God in the temple every day, full of piety, yet rejected the baptism of John and did not believe in Jesus—they are the second son. And those despised tax collectors and prostitutes, who initially said “no” to God and lived lives violating the law, yet when John came, they repented and believed—they are the first son. Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.” (Matthew 21:31)
This is where the Gospel is most disturbing, yet also most comforting: God does not look at how many times we have said “yes” with our mouths, but whether our hearts are honest and willing to change our minds. Perhaps each of us has been like the second son—saying “yes” to God in church but doing nothing once we step outside; saying forgiveness with our mouths but holding grudges in our hearts. But the Gospel tells us that even if we have been like the first son, saying “no” to God’s invitation, as long as we change our minds in the silence, the Heavenly Father still welcomes us into His vineyard with open arms.
The vineyard is not a place for perfect people, but for those willing to change their minds. The question has never been how many times we have said “no,” but whether, at this moment, we are willing to get up and go.
O God, who manifest your almighty power above all by pardoning and showing mercy, bestow, we pray, your grace abundantly upon us and make those hastening to attain your promises heirs to the treasures of heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,God, for ever and ever
September 26, 2026 Saturday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time or Optional Memorial of Saints Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs Gospel: Luke 9:43b–45
Today is Saturday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time. The Church today celebrates the Optional Memorial of the holy Martyrs Cosmas and Damian. The recently published Missal tells us: SS. Cosmas and Damian, according to tradition, whose historical details are not altogether certain, they were twin brothers who practiced medicine and were called the Anargyroi, “the silverness,” because they charged nothing for their care. By their healing they led many patients to Christ. Under the Diocletian persecution they were condemned to death, traditionally about the year 300, and suffered at Cirrhus in Syria. Their basilica in Rome, near the Colosseum, was built in the sixth century by Pope Felix IV; their names are listed in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I).
Today, the passage from the holy Gospel according to Saint Luke continues to show us the crowd’s perception of Jesus during His time. Let us continue to understand.
First, Saint Luke tells us: While everyone was astonished at all that Jesus was doing, He said to His disciples, “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” (cf. Luke 9:43b–44)
Perhaps we may feel puzzled by these words of Jesus, but if we contemplate the Eucharist with the eyes of faith, we can understand. For the bread and wine in the hands of the priest, through the consecration by the Holy Spirit, truly become the Sacred Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this way, our Lord Jesus Christ is handed over into human hands and becomes the true food and true drink of all brothers and sisters who have received the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ and the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Today, Jesus reminds us: “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” (cf. 9:44) This means: Having received my Baptism and become my disciples, you must listen carefully to my words. Only my words, only my teaching, can save you. He also tells us: We must willingly become the instruments He chooses to use, resembling Him in every way, and hand ourselves over into the hands of others, so that others, through our selfless love for them, may experience God’s love for them, and thus choose to receive the Baptism of Christ as we have, be united to Christ, receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and become His children, so that His love for the world may be continued through our living it out.
May you be magnified, O Lord, by the revered memory of your Saints Cosmas and Damian, for with providence beyond words you have conferred on them everlasting glory, and on us, your unfailing help. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
25 September 2026 Friday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Gospel: Luke 9:18-22
Today, Friday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time, the passage from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke continues to present to us the discussion concerning the identity of Jesus. Let us seek to understand it.
First, Saint Luke tells us: Once when Jesus was praying alone, the disciples were with him, and he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They replied, “John the Baptist. Others say Elijah. Still others say that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” (cf. Luke 9:18–19)
We often interpret the words of Jesus according to the way the world understands the Word of God—that is, according to the mindset and methods of the world—and we imagine Jesus to be as we would wish him to be. When Jesus asks us, “Who do you say that I am? What do you think of me?” we, too, like those who do not know him, answer him carelessly. This is because we do not truly listen to the Word of God—that is, to the Word which God himself communicates to us through his Church and by means of his faithful servants. Instead, we listen to human words, not the words of God. To listen to human words leads us to perceive Jesus according to merely human categories. In this way, we come to think of God as one who rewards the good and punishes the wicked. Yet, if we look upon God according to the teaching handed down to us by the Church, then we come to know Jesus rightly: he is not a God who merely rewards and punishes, but a God who is Love.
Today, Peter, on behalf of all the disciples who follow Jesus, confesses that Jesus is the Christ (cf. Luke 9:20), giving us a noble example to follow. Peter’s confession arises from his lived experience and from his deepening understanding of Jesus and of the Kingdom which Jesus proclaims, an understanding born of his encounter with the Lord. When Peter perceived that the Kingdom preached by Jesus differed from that taught by the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, chief priests, and elders of the people—when he saw that Jesus not only taught but confirmed his words by his deeds, drawing ever greater multitudes to follow him—then Peter ceased to judge Jesus and his works by the standards of this passing world. Instead, guided by the Holy Spirit and enlightened by him, Peter looked upon Jesus with the eyes of faith. Thus, he confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One of God who was to come.
Today, let us imitate the Apostle Peter. Let us courageously confess that Jesus is the Messiah of God. Let us boldly renounce all that this passing world seeks to impose upon us and let us adopt a wholly transformed way of life, bearing witness to the Gospel.
O God, who founded all the commands of your sacred Law upon love of you and of our neighbor, grant that, by keeping your precepts, we may merit to attain eternal life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever
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