22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

• First Reading – Jeremiah 20:7-9: You, O LORD, overcame me, and though I’m mocked and derided, I cannot hold back your word. It burns in my heart, and I cannot endure keeping it inside.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 63: O God, I seek you with a thirst like dry, lifeless earth. I’ve seen your power and glory; your kindness is greater than life. My soul clings to you, and your right hand upholds me.
• Second Reading – Romans 12:1-2: I urge you to offer yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. Don’t conform to this age but renew your mind to discern what is good and pleasing to God.
• Gospel – Matthew 16:21-27: Jesus begins to explain that He must suffer, be killed, and resurrect. Peter rebukes Him, but Jesus says that Peter’s thinking like a man, not God. He tells His followers to deny themselves, take up their crosses, and follow Him. Gaining the world but losing one’s soul is futile. The Son of Man will come and reward each according to their deeds.

Lectionary Reference: 124

The readings above are for lectionary cycle A. For other years see the links below:
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A teaches about sacrifice, suffering, and following God’s ways. The readings show that being faithful is not always easy, but it is worth it.

• God’s call is strong: Jeremiah feels overwhelmed by God’s message, but he cannot keep it inside. Even when people mock him, he must speak the truth.
• True worship requires sacrifice: Paul urges believers to offer themselves to God. This means living in a way that pleases God, not following what the world values.
• Suffering is part of faith: Jesus tells His disciples that He must suffer and die. This shows that following God’s plan often brings hardship, but it leads to life.
• God’s ways are not human ways: Peter wants to protect Jesus from suffering, but Jesus corrects him. Human thinking often focuses on comfort, but God’s plan is bigger.
• Carrying the cross: Jesus calls His followers to deny themselves and take up their crosses. Faith is not just about belief; it requires action and sacrifice.
• The soul is worth more than the world: Jesus warns that gaining everything means nothing if a person loses their soul. Faith is about seeking what lasts forever, not just what feels good now.
• God will judge each person: Jesus says that the Son of Man will come and repay people for their deeds. Faith is not just about words but about how a person lives.

The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A challenges believers to think differently. Following Jesus means sacrifice, but it leads to true life.

The Cost of Discipleship

In Jeff Cavins’ reflection for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, he highlights modern-day discipleship. He emphasizes two aspects: offering one’s body as a living sacrifice and renewing the mind. Aligning with Romans 12, these concepts underscore living fully for God. This parallels the Gospel’s call to carry the cross and follow Jesus. By intertwining our struggles with His, we move towards God’s kingdom. Jeff encourages dedicating oneself as a living sacrifice, renewing the mind through prayer and Scripture, and embracing the cross. This practice fosters a deeper connection with discipleship and spiritual growth.

Losing One’s Soul

Bishop Robert Barron’s homily on the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A delves into a painting, “Romans during the Decadence,” capturing a wild Roman revelry. Central to this tableau is a young woman radiating boredom, disgust, and despair amidst pleasure. Connecting this image to the Gospel reading, Bishop Barron explores gaining the world but losing one’s soul. He defines the soul as the essence linking individuals with God, emphasizing its proper alignment to handle life’s challenges. To retain one’s soul, he underscores the formula of self-denial and embracing the cross, rather than seeking empty pleasures.

For Your Life

Scott Hahn’s reflection for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A focuses on Jeremiah’s lamentation and Jesus’ teachings about embracing the cross. Jeremiah, feeling abandoned after preaching God’s word, learns that God tests the just and disciplines His children through trials. Jesus, in the Gospel, emphasizes that following Him involves self-denial and taking up the cross for the sake of His gospel. Paul reinforces this in the Epistle, urging us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God. Although the cross may be a stumbling block, we’re called to align our thinking with God’s and offer our lives as pleasing sacrifices, finding richness in Him.

Finding Our Life

Fr. Richard Rohr reflects on Matthew 16:25, where Jesus asserts that to save one’s life, it must be lost. Fr. Rohr interprets this as a call to transcend the ego’s fixation on roles, status, and self-images that are transient and illusory. He emphasizes that these false identities must die to discover the true self, which is connected to the Divine and all of creation. Fr. Rohr critiques the distortion of spirituality that defers such awakening to an afterlife, rather than embracing it here and now. He shares a poem by David Whyte that speaks to the journey of letting go and finding oneself in connection with the universe, ultimately describing salvation as universal belonging and connecting.

How To Pick Up Your Cross

Fr. Mike Schmitz discusses the misconceptions surrounding taking up one’s cross in the context of discipleship. He dispels the notion that “harder is holier” and emphasizes that embracing one’s cross is about aligning personal desires with God’s will. Fr. Mike differentiates between active and passive purification as two forms of taking up the cross. Active purification involves saying yes to chosen commitments that align with God’s will, while passive purification entails saying yes to crosses that were not chosen and are not desired. Fr. Mike highlights that taking up the cross is not a solitary journey; rather, it’s done with Jesus’ presence and strength, leading to transformation and glory.

The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A challenges believers to think about faith in a deeper way. Jeremiah struggles with doubts but cannot turn away from God’s call. Paul urges people to live differently, making their whole lives an offering to God. Jesus teaches that suffering is part of following Him. These readings remind people that faith is not always easy, but it is always worth it.

Faith Amidst Doubts

The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A shows that even the strongest believers struggle. Jeremiah feels trapped between his calling and his emotions. He speaks God’s word, but people reject him. He wants to walk away, but he can’t. The message inside him burns like fire.

Many people experience this tension. They try to follow God but face challenges. Doubt creeps in, making them wonder if they are on the right path. Jeremiah’s story reminds them that faith isn’t about never struggling. It’s about holding on, even when it’s hard.

Jeremiah’s words are raw and honest. He doesn’t pretend everything is fine. He cries out to God, frustrated but still faithful. His struggle is real, but so is his commitment. He teaches that questioning doesn’t mean losing faith.

The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A encourages believers to keep going. Doubts don’t mean failure. They are part of the journey. Like Jeremiah, people may feel overwhelmed, but God’s call remains strong. Faith is about pushing forward, even when things are uncertain.

Renewed Living

The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A challenges people to live differently. Paul urges believers to offer themselves to God. This isn’t about big, dramatic gestures. It’s about daily choices. Faith is not just about words but about how a person lives.

Paul warns against conforming to the world. Many things fight for attention—money, success, comfort. It’s easy to follow what everyone else is doing. But Paul calls for a different path. He tells believers to renew their minds and focus on what is good.

Renewing the mind doesn’t happen instantly. It takes effort and time. It means letting go of old habits and learning to see things as God does. It’s about making choices that align with faith, even when they are difficult.

The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A reminds people that faith is active. It’s not about going through the motions. It’s about choosing God’s way every day. Paul’s words encourage believers to live with purpose, offering their lives as an act of worship.

Embracing Suffering

The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A brings a difficult message—faith includes suffering. Jesus tells His disciples that He must suffer, die, and rise again. Peter doesn’t like this. He wants to protect Jesus from pain. But Jesus rebukes him. Peter is thinking like a human, not like God.

Suffering is hard to accept. No one wants it. But Jesus shows that suffering has meaning. He doesn’t run from it. He faces it with trust in God’s plan. He knows that pain is not the final word.

Many people struggle with suffering. They wonder why bad things happen. They want to avoid hardship. But Jesus calls His followers to carry their crosses. This doesn’t mean seeking suffering, but accepting it when it comes.

The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A reminds believers that faith isn’t about avoiding pain. It’s about trusting God through it. Jesus shows that suffering is not the end. There is hope beyond it. Faith means walking the hard road, knowing that God is with us.

Faith is not just about believing—it’s about living. The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A calls believers to trust God even when things are uncertain. Doubts, struggles, and suffering are part of the journey, but they do not mean failure. By staying faithful and renewing the mind, people can grow closer to God. Jesus leads the way, showing that sacrifice and trust bring true life.

Prayer

Lord, following You is not always easy. Sometimes doubts, struggles, and suffering make it hard to trust. Give me the strength to keep going. Help me renew my mind and live for You each day. Teach me to carry my cross with faith and courage. Amen.

• When have you struggled with doubts in your faith?
• How does Jeremiah’s story speak to your own experiences?
• What are some ways you can renew your mind and focus on God?
• What does offering your life to God mean in daily life?
• How do you handle suffering and hardship in your faith journey?
• Why do you think Peter resisted the idea of Jesus suffering?
• What are some worldly things that distract you from following God?
• How can you support someone who is going through suffering?
• What does taking up your cross mean to you personally?
• How can you trust God more in difficult times?

The music selections for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A reflect themes of discipleship, sacrifice, and trusting in God’s plan. Some songs focus on following Jesus, even when the road is difficult. Others encourage believers to give their lives fully to God, just as Paul teaches. Many of the songs call for faith in times of struggle, reminding listeners that suffering is part of the journey. Some hymns celebrate the cross, lifting it high as a sign of hope. Whether through modern worship music or traditional hymns, these songs help express the message of the readings in a way that connects with the heart and soul.

• At the Name of Jesus by Christopher Walker
• Be God’s by Daniel Rose
• Be Thou My Vision by Bob Fabing
• Build My Life by Bethel Music
• Come and Follow Me by John Angotti
• Come Follow Me by Gael Berberick, Barney Walker, & Kevin Keil
• Come to Jesus by Josh Blakesley and Sarah Hart
• Glorify Him by Your Life by Lorraine Hess
• I Am Yours (Consume Me, Completely) by Trevor Thomson & Danielle Rose
• I Have Decided to Follow Jesus by Jadon Lavik
• I Will Choose Christ By Tom Booth and Ed Bolduc
• I Will Follow by Chris Tomlin
• Lift High the Cross by Sydney H. Nicholson
• Love Divine All Loves Excelling by Rowland H. Pritchard & Charles Wesley
• My Soul Is Thirsting by Steve Angrisano, Tabetha Fair, Gene Miller, Tom Hemby & Brian Green
• Reason to Live by Ed Bolduc
• Sometimes by Step by Rich Mullins
• Take My Life by Passion and Chris Tomlin
• Take Up Our Cross by Curtis Stephan
• Take Up Your Cross by Jamie Cortez
• Wherever He Leads, I’ll Go by Alan Jackson
• We Will Serve the Lord by Rory Cooney

Music directors and musicians can use these songs to deepen the message of the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. The right music can inspire people to reflect on the call to follow Christ. Consider using these selections or finding other songs that highlight themes of sacrifice, trust, and renewal. Share your own suggestions in the comments and help create a meaningful worship experience.

What does Jeremiah mean when he says he cannot hold back God’s message?

Jeremiah feels overwhelmed by God’s call, but he cannot stay silent. Even when he faces rejection and hardship, God’s message is so strong within him that he must keep speaking.

Why does Jeremiah struggle with his calling?

Jeremiah follows God’s will, but it brings him trouble. People mock him and reject his words, making him feel frustrated and discouraged. Even though he wants to stop, he knows he must continue.

What does Paul mean by offering ourselves as a living sacrifice?

Paul is telling believers to give their whole lives to God. This means making choices that honor God every day, not just during prayer or worship.

How can we renew our minds as Paul teaches?

Renewing the mind means changing how we think. Instead of following the world’s way of thinking, we learn to see things as God does by praying, reading Scripture, and choosing what is good.

Why does Jesus tell Peter that he is thinking like a human?

Peter does not want Jesus to suffer, which seems natural. But Jesus knows that suffering is part of God’s plan, and Peter is focusing only on what seems easier or better in human terms.

What does Jesus mean when He says to take up your cross?

Taking up your cross means accepting the struggles that come with following Jesus. It means staying faithful even when life is hard.

Why does Jesus say that gaining the whole world is worthless if someone loses their soul?

Jesus warns that success, wealth, or power mean nothing if a person turns away from God. True life comes from following Him, not from chasing worldly things.

What does the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A teach about suffering?

The readings show that suffering is part of faith. Jesus suffers, Jeremiah struggles, and Paul calls for sacrifice. Suffering is not the end, but a way to grow in faith and trust in God.

How can we apply the message of the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A to daily life?

We can trust God even when life is difficult, just like Jeremiah, Paul, and Jesus teach. Instead of avoiding struggles, we can face them with faith and keep following God’s way.

Why does the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A focus on sacrifice?

Faith is not always easy, and it often requires letting go of comfort, pride, or worldly success. The readings remind us that true life comes from giving ourselves fully to God.

How can we live out the lessons of these readings?

We can listen to God’s call even when it is hard, trust in Him when we face suffering, and choose to follow His way instead of the world’s way. Every day, we can ask how our choices reflect our faith.