Mass Reading: Sunday -20th September 2026

First reading
Isaiah 55:6-9
My thoughts are not your thoughts

Seek the Lord while he is still to be found,
call to him while he is still near.
Let the wicked man abandon his way,
the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn back to the Lord who will take pity on him,
to our God who is rich in forgiving;
for my thoughts are not your thoughts,
my ways not your ways – it is the Lord who speaks.
Yes, the heavens are as high above earth
as my ways are above your ways,
my thoughts above your thoughts.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 144(145):2-3,8-9,17-18

The Lord is close to all who call him.

I will bless you day after day
    and praise your name for ever.
The Lord is great, highly to be praised,
    his greatness cannot be measured.

The Lord is close to all who call him.

The Lord is kind and full of compassion,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
How good is the Lord to all,
    compassionate to all his creatures.

The Lord is close to all who call him.

The Lord is just in all his ways
    and loving in all his deeds.
He is close to all who call him,
    who call on him from their hearts.

The Lord is close to all who call him.

________

Second reading
Philippians 1:20-24,27
Life to me is Christ; but death would bring me more

    Christ will be glorified in my body, whether by my life or by my death. Life to me, of course, is Christ, but then death would bring me something more; but then again, if living in this body means doing work which is having good results – I do not know what I should choose. I am caught in this dilemma: I want to be gone and be with Christ, which would be very much the better, but for me to stay alive in this body is a more urgent need for your sake.

    Avoid anything in your everyday lives that would be unworthy of the gospel of Christ.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
cf.Lk19:38,2:14

Alleluia, alleluia!

Blessings on the King who comes,
in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven
and glory in the highest heavens!

Alleluia!

Or:
cf.Ac16:14

Alleluia, alleluia!

Open our heart, O Lord,
to accept the words of your Son.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 20:1-16
Why be envious because I am generous?

    Jesus said to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner going out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard. He made an agreement with the workers for one denarius a day, and sent them to his vineyard. Going out at about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place and said to them, “You go to my vineyard too and I will give you a fair wage.” So they went. At about the sixth hour and again at about the ninth hour, he went out and did the same. Then at about the eleventh hour he went out and found more men standing round, and he said to them, “Why have you been standing here idle all day?” “Because no one has hired us” they answered. He said to them, “You go into my vineyard too.” In the evening, the owner of the vineyard said to his bailiff, “Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last arrivals and ending with the first.” So those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came forward and received one denarius each. When the first came, they expected to get more, but they too received one denarius each. They took it, but grumbled at the landowner. “The men who came last” they said “have done only one hour, and you have treated them the same as us, though we have done a heavy day’s work in all the heat.” He answered one of them and said, “My friend, I am not being unjust to you; did we not agree on one denarius? Take your earnings and go. I choose to pay the last comer as much as I pay you. Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why be envious because I am generous?” Thus the last will be first, and the first, last.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

 

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 20th September 2026

 

IS 55:6-9; PS 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18; PHIL 1:20C-24, 27A; MT 20:1-16A

Though we can never fully comprehend the perfection of God and His ways, Sacred Scripture reminds us that God's ways and priorities are often very different from our own. As Christian stewards, we are called to adopt His way of thinking rather than the world's.

Our First Reading from Isaiah begins with an urgent invitation: "Seek the Lord while he may be found, call him while he is near." Stewardship reminds us that time itself is a gift from God. The time to know, love, and serve Him is now. We cannot afford to waste the precious moments He has entrusted to us.

The world often tells us that success is measured by getting ahead, looking out for ourselves, or believing that time is money. God offers a different perspective: "My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways." As His disciples, we are called to see life from God's perspective, using our time, talents, and treasure with eternity in mind.

St. Paul models this way of thinking in today's Second Reading. He writes, "For to me life is Christ." Paul's life no longer revolves around himself. Everything is centered on Christ. The same should be true for every Christian steward.

In today's Gospel, Jesus illustrates this divine perspective through the parable of the workers in the vineyard. Some labor from early morning, while others are called only near the end of the day. Yet the landowner gives each worker the same wage. Those who worked the longest grumble because they are measuring fairness according to human standards rather than recognizing God's extraordinary generosity.

That same temptation can affect us. We may compare ourselves to others and wonder whether everyone else is contributing as much as we are at home, in our parish, or in our community. At those moments, we need to remember that it is a privilege simply to have been invited into the Lord's vineyard. The more opportunities we have to serve Him, the greater the gift.

Living the stewardship way of life, with Christ at the center of everything, fills our lives with meaning, purpose, and lasting joy. May we thank God each day for calling us to share in His work.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 13th September 2026

First reading
Ecclesiasticus 27:33-28:9
Forgive your neighbour the hurt he does you; and when you pray, your sins will be forgiven

Resentment and anger, these are foul things,
    and both are found with the sinner.
He who exacts vengeance will experience the vengeance of the Lord,
    who keeps strict account of sin.
Forgive your neighbour the hurt he does you,
    and when you pray, your sins will be forgiven.
If a man nurses anger against another,
    can he then demand compassion from the Lord?
Showing no pity for a man like himself,
    can he then plead for his own sins?
Mere creature of flesh, he cherishes resentment;
    who will forgive him his sins?
Remember the last things, and stop hating,
    remember dissolution and death, and live by the commandments.
Remember the commandments, and do not bear your neighbour ill-will;
    remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook the offence.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 102(103):1-4,9-12

The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord
    all my being, bless his holy name.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord
    and never forget all his blessings.

The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy.

It is he who forgives all your guilt,
    who heals every one of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave,
    who crowns you with love and compassion.

The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy.

His wrath will come to an end;
    he will not be angry for ever.
He does not treat us according to our sins
    nor repay us according to our faults.

The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy.

For as the heavens are high above the earth
    so strong is his love for those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west
    so far does he remove our sins.

The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy.

________

Second reading
Romans 14:7-9
Alive or dead, we belong to the Lord

    The life and death of each of us has its influence on others; if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord, so that alive or dead we belong to the Lord. This explains why Christ both died and came to life: it was so that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
1S3:9,Jn6:68

Alleluia, alleluia!

Speak, Lord, your servant is listening:
you have the message of eternal life.

Alleluia!

Or:
Jn13:34

Alleluia, alleluia!

I give you a new commandment:
love one another just as I have loved you, 
says the Lord.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 18:21-35
To be forgiven, you must forgive

    Peter went up to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times.

    ‘And so the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who decided to settle his accounts with his servants. When the reckoning began, they brought him a man who owed ten thousand talents; but he had no means of paying, so his master gave orders that he should be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, to meet the debt. At this, the servant threw himself down at his master’s feet. “Give me time” he said “and I will pay the whole sum.” And the servant’s master felt so sorry for him that he let him go and cancelled the debt. Now as this servant went out, he happened to meet a fellow servant who owed him one hundred denarii; and he seized him by the throat and began to throttle him. “Pay what you owe me” he said. His fellow servant fell at his feet and implored him, saying, “Give me time and I will pay you.” But the other would not agree; on the contrary, he had him thrown into prison till he should pay the debt. His fellow servants were deeply distressed when they saw what had happened, and they went to their master and reported the whole affair to him. Then the master sent for him. “You wicked servant,” he said “I cancelled all that debt of yours when you appealed to me. Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?” And in his anger the master handed him over to the torturers till he should pay all his debt. And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 13th September 2026

 

SIR 27:30-28:7; PS 103:1-4, 9-12; ROM 14:7-9; MT 18:21-35

Christian stewardship begins with the recognition that everything we have and everything we are is a gift from God. We respond to His extraordinary generosity by offering our lives back to Him in gratitude. The stewardship of our time, talents, and treasure helps form us as disciples, but true stewardship also transforms our hearts.

Today's readings invite us to examine the state of our hearts — our thoughts, attitudes, and emotions.

In our First Reading from Sirach, we hear about the destructive power of anger: "Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight... Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the Lord?" All of us have been hurt by others at some point, some more deeply than others. While our emotions are gifts from God, we are called to steward them well rather than allowing them to control us.

How do we do that? Sirach gives us the answer: "Remember your last days, set enmity aside... Think of the commandments... remember the Most High's covenant, and overlook faults." Instead of dwelling on past hurts, we choose gratitude. We remember God's countless blessings, His unfailing mercy, and His faithful love, placing our trust in Him.

When we adopt this perspective, we discover real freedom. We remember that our lives belong to God, not to ourselves. St. Paul expresses this beautifully in today's Second Reading: "Whether we live or die, we are the Lord's." Because everything we have comes from Him, we need not cling to anger or resentment. We can entrust every hurt and every injustice to the Lord.

In today's Gospel, Jesus deepens this lesson through the parable of the unforgiving servant. A king forgives a debt so enormous it could never be repaid, yet that same servant refuses to forgive a much smaller debt owed to him.

The story should sound familiar. God has given us life, forgiven our sins through His Son, and opened the way to eternal life. Like the servant in the parable, we could never repay such a gift. The only fitting response is to offer Him our whole lives and to extend the same mercy and forgiveness He has shown to us. As Jesus teaches, we are called to "forgive your brother from your heart."

That is the freedom and joy found in the stewardship way of life.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 6th September 2026

 

EZ 33:7-9; PS 95:1-2, 6-9; ROM 13:8-10; MT 18:15-20

Today's readings remind us of the importance of our relationships. God created us to live in communion with Him and with one another. Our families, neighbors, friends, and parish community need us, and we need them as we encourage one another on the journey toward heaven.

Our First Reading from Ezekiel shows us that each of us has a responsibility for one another. God tells the prophet, "I have appointed you watchman for the house of Israel; when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me." Through our Baptism, we too are called to be "watchmen" for one another. We have received the gift of the Catholic faith, and we are called to share that gift with love, humility, and generosity wherever God places us.

At first, this responsibility can seem intimidating. Does God expect us to preach a sermon wherever we go? Not at all.

Instead, St. Paul gives us a simple guide in today's Second Reading: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love is the guiding principle that helps us become good stewards of every relationship God has entrusted to us.

Authentic love always seeks the good of the other. Sometimes that means speaking the truth with charity when it would be easier to remain silent. At other times, love calls us to remain silent when we are tempted to speak in anger.

In today's Gospel, Jesus shows us what that love looks like, even when relationships become strained. He tells 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."

Those words are especially relevant today. Our first instinct can be to complain to others, vent publicly, or avoid the difficult conversation altogether. Jesus points us toward a better way. He teaches us to approach one another directly, with humility, charity, and a sincere desire for reconciliation. This is faithful stewardship of our relationships.

Near the end of the passage, Jesus reminds us of the strength found in Christian community: "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

God never intended us to journey to heaven alone. May we care for the relationships He has entrusted to us and help one another grow as faithful disciples.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 6th September 2026

First reading
Ezekiel 33:7-9
If you do not speak to the wicked man, I will hold you responsible for his death

    The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows: ‘Son of man, I have appointed you as sentry to the House of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, warn them in my name. If I say to a wicked man: Wicked wretch, you are to die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked man to renounce his ways, then he shall die for his sin, but I will hold you responsible for his death. If, however, you do warn a wicked man to renounce his ways and repent, and he does not repent, then he shall die for his sin, but you yourself will have saved your life.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 94(95):1-2,6-9

O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’

Come, ring out our joy to the Lord;
    hail the rock who saves us.
Let us come before him, giving thanks,
    with songs let us hail the Lord.

O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’

Come in; let us bow and bend low;
    let us kneel before the God who made us:
for he is our God and we
    the people who belong to his pasture,
    the flock that is led by his hand.

O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’

O that today you would listen to his voice!
    ‘Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
    as on that day at Massah in the desert
when your fathers put me to the test;
    when they tried me, though they saw my work.’

O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’

________

Second reading
Romans 13:8-10
Your only debt should be the debt of mutual love

    Avoid getting into debt, except the debt of mutual love. If you love your fellow men you have carried out your obligations. All the commandments: You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and so on, are summed up in this single command: You must love your neighbour as yourself. Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbour; that is why it is the answer to every one of the commandments.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Jn17:17

Alleluia, alleluia!

Your word is truth, O Lord:
consecrate us in the truth.

Alleluia!

Or:
2Co5:19

Alleluia, alleluia!

God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself,
and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 18:15-20
If your brother listens to you, you have won back your brother

    Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain any charge. But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community; and if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a pagan or a tax collector.

    ‘I tell you solemnly, whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.

    ‘I tell you solemnly once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them.’

The Gospel of the Lord.