September 16, 2026 Memorial of Pope Saints Cornelius and Cyprian, Bishop Gospel: Luke 7:31–35
Today is Wednesday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time. On this day the Church celebrates the Memorial of Pope Saint Cornelius and Saint Cyprian, Bishop. As the recently published Roman Missal tells us: Saint Cornelius (+253) succeeded Saint Fabian as Pope and vigorously opposed the errors of Novatian, who denied that those who had lapsed from the faith could be reconciled. He died while in exile at Civitavecchia, Italy (Civitavecchia), and is venerated as a martyr. Saint Cyprian (+258) was another leading opponent of Novatianism. He was Bishop of Carthage and one of the earliest victims of the persecution under Emperor Valerian. Both saints are included in the Roman Canon.
The Mass Gospel for today is taken from the Gospel of Saint Luke. In this passage, Jesus uses a parable to set forth for us the distinction between the children of this generation and the children of God. I would like to take this opportunity to offer some reflections.
In our daily lives, we often have occasions to observe innocent children as they talk among themselves about the lives they dream of living. When we listen to their conversations, we frequently think that all they say seems like the ramblings of fools — scarcely attainable — and so, like the people of Jesus’ own time, we come to regard everything proclaimed by Jesus and His Precursor, Saint John the Baptist, as something far beyond our reach. We may even think that all Jesus proclaims to the world has little to do with us. Today, Jesus compares His contemporaries to children sitting in the marketplace, and to the dialogue exchanged between these children — a dialogue that reveals the very qualities of those who choose to embrace the Gospel He proclaims. Those who are willing to accept the Gospel He proclaims long to enter the Kingdom of Heaven of which He speaks: an eternal Kingdom composed of a God who loves and people who are loved by God; a Kingdom where there are no longer rulers and ruled, but all are brothers and sisters; an eternal Kingdom that no longer perpetuates the order, the lands, and the borders of this passing world. These who long to enter the Kingdom proclaimed by Jesus are simple like children, and they proclaim the joyful tidings of the Gospel to those who belong to the old order. But those of the old order, judging from their own perspective, say of Jesus: “He is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” (cf. Luke 7:34). Yet those who belong to the new order — they confess Jesus Christ as Lord; they often meditate upon the Word of God; they constantly deepen their communion with Jesus through prayer; and, in the light and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they experience and discern the will of God, living out the joy of the Gospel — thereby proving that they are children of Wisdom.
O God, who gave Saints Cornelius and Cyprian to your people as diligent shepherds and valiant Martyrs, grant that through their intercession we may be strengthened in faith and constancy and spend ourselves without reserve for the unity of the Church. 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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