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.