22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time invites us to live with humility and to follow God’s ways, not the world’s. In each year, the readings challenge us to put others first and let go of pride. We are reminded that God does not look at status or appearance but at the heart. True honor comes from living with love and trust in Him.

This Sunday also focuses on sacrifice and obedience. We hear calls to offer our lives to God and to follow Christ, even when it is hard. The path of faith may involve loss or struggle, but it leads to something greater. Jesus shows us that to find life, we must be willing to give it. These readings call us to reflect on our actions and seek a humble heart.

Click on the appropriate year below to see resources, themes, homilies, and more. See how to determine the correct year.

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

Mass Readings for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

See resources, homilies, and more for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A readings here.

• First Reading – Jeremiah 20:7-9: The prophet feels tricked by God, laughed at for delivering God’s violent message. Despite attempts to stop mentioning God, the urge to speak becomes an unbearable fire within.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 63: This is an intense expression of spiritual thirst for God, finding satisfaction in His kindness and protection, leading to joyful praise and reliance on God’s support.
• Second Reading – Romans 12:1-2: This emphasizes the importance of personal sacrifice and spiritual transformation, encouraging discernment of God’s will through a renewed and non-conformist mindset.
• Gospel – Matthew 16:21-27: Jesus reveals to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and rise again on the third day. Peter tries to dissuade Him, but Jesus rebukes him, recognizing the influence of Satan behind his words. Jesus then explains that following Him requires self-denial, taking up one’s cross, and being willing to lose one’s life for His sake. He emphasizes the value of gaining eternal life and warns against forfeiting one’s soul for worldly gain.

Mass Readings for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

See resources, homilies, and more for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B readings here.

• First Reading – Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8: Israelites are instructed to faithfully observe the laws given to them, not adding or subtracting anything, showcasing their wisdom and the unique closeness of their relationship with God.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 15: The text emphasizes the attributes of a just person: honesty, kindness, respect for others, refusing to exploit the vulnerable. Those embodying these traits will remain undisturbed.
• Second Reading –James 1:17-18, 21B-22, 27: The text encourages embracing divine truth, which leads to spiritual birth and salvation. Authentic religious practice involves active, compassionate actions towards vulnerable individuals and maintaining personal purity.
• Gospel – Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23: Jesus confronted the Pharisees and scribes who criticized His disciples for not following handwashing traditions, teaching them that true defilement stems from evil thoughts and actions within a person’s heart rather than external rituals. He emphasized that it is the impurities that emerge from the heart, like evil intentions, greed, deceit, and pride, that make a person unclean.

Mass Readings for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

See resources, homilies, and more for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C readings here.

• First Reading – Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29: Seek humility in your actions to earn love and divine favor. Avoid striving for unattainable wisdom, and instead, appreciate and seek attainable knowledge. Practice charity as a way to atone for sins.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 68: In His kindness, God is a protector and provider. He brings joy to the just, shelters the poor and orphaned, frees the captured, and nurtures the land for the needy.
• Second Reading – Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24A: You haven’t come to a fearful place, but to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, filled with joyful angels, righteous spirits, and Jesus, the mediator of a superior covenant.
• Gospel – Luke 14:1, 7-14: Jesus went to eat at a Pharisee’s house and noticed how the guests chose the best seats. He told them a parable, advising them to take the humblest seat and be exalted by the host, rather than exalting themselves. He also encouraged the host to invite the poor, crippled, blind, and lame, assuring him of blessings at the resurrection of the righteous.

Lookup Other Liturgical Dates in the Lectionary

The Bible is a collection of books that contains God’s word, while the Lectionary is a book of selected Scripture readings used at Mass. The Lectionary organizes passages from the Bible into a schedule so that Catholics hear important parts of Scripture throughout the year. Each reading is assigned to a specific day, such as Sundays, weekdays, and feast days. For example, the readings for this Sunday follow a set order that connects themes of faith, obedience, and trust in God.

The Lectionary also uses approved Bible translations for Mass. In the United States, the New American Bible (NAB) is the standard translation. Other countries may use different translations, depending on what is approved by their bishops. The Lectionary helps Catholics grow in faith by providing a structured way to hear and reflect on Scripture. To learn more about how the Lectionary is arranged, visit here.

How to Determine the Liturgical Year

The liturgical cycle is a three-year sequence of A, B, and C.

• 2024 is Year B
• 2025 is Year C
• 2026 is Year A
• 2027 is Year B
• 2028 is Year C
• 2029 is Year A
• 2030 is Year B
• 2031 is Year C
• … and so on

The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time speaks about humility and choosing the right path. In one year, Jesus tells a parable about guests at a banquet. He teaches not to take the best seat, but to wait and be invited. This shows that those who lift themselves up will be humbled, but the humble will be lifted up.

In another year, we hear about not just following rules on the outside, but living with a clean heart. Jesus warns against honoring God with words while our hearts are far from Him. He wants us to live with honesty and love, not just go through motions.

Another year’s readings speak about how God’s ways are not always easy. We may face rejection or trouble. But we are called to stay true to His word. The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time helps us look at our actions and choose what pleases God, even when it is hard.

Take time to read the Gospel and the other readings for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Ask yourself how you can live more humbly and with more love. Think about how you treat others and if you try to put yourself first.

You are invited to reflect on these themes and share your thoughts in the comment section. How do you live out these lessons in your daily life? What part of the readings speaks to you most?