Scripture Reflection - September 27, 2026

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Ezekiel 18:25-28 - Philippians 2:1-11    - Matthew 21:28-32

Today we are presented with a banquet of three readings, a bouquet of flowers to gaze upon, three diverse paths which should lead us closer to God.  Do I choose all three, or do I zero in on the one that just may be God’s word for me today?

Do I ever think to myself, “The Lord’s way is not fair”? Do I truly consider others more important than myself? How do I respond when I am called to do something I really don’t want to do? 

If time allows, challenge yourself with all three readings. Or simply choose one and spend some time chatting with God about what it might be saying to you.  The choice is yours.

For starters, we came into this world and quickly discovered that being treated fairly was a priority. We became upset when someone got more than we did. As adults, we know all too well that we live in an unfair world. The chasm between the rich and the poor is, in many ways, the result of the fair and unfair choices and actions of the people who inhabit this world.

Paul once again points us toward our self-image and how we see ourselves in relation to others.  Am I humble enough to consider others as important as, or even more important than, myself? Is the driving force of my life my own interests, or am I genuinely concerned about the interests and needs of others?

What goes on in my head when someone makes a request of me that is not what I want to spend my time or energy doing?  Do I simply say, “No, I’m not doing that”? Or can I allow myself to be influenced, pause, and recognize that perhaps this is something I am being called to do?

These are readings that millions of Catholics will hear today. But how many of us truly listen? How many take the time to sit with the word and ask “What is this saying to me?” How many will go online to see what others are thinking, rather than first listening for what God might be saying?  How many homilies challenge and inspire the thorny issues that surround us and call for a response?

Going to Church on Sunday is not simply about showing up. It is about listening to the Word, and then doing something about it before we return the following week. 

Jesus never took things lightly. His mission was to change minds and hearts so that we might live differently, love more deeply, and help create a better world here and now. And in the end, Jesus reminds us that our hope is to one day be with him forever.

Sr. Dorothy Maxwell, OP