22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

On the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, we are reminded of the importance of putting God first and following Jesus with humility. The readings explore our innate longing for God, the need to be cautious of sinful influences, and the significance of prioritizing unity and selflessness in the Kingdom of God. These diverse themes encompass sacrificial love, prayer, water symbolism, genuine faith, and the avoidance of empty rituals. Whether in youth ministry, religious education programs, or family discussions, the collective insights from these readings offer valuable guidance for deepening our relationship with God and living out our faith authentically.

Click on the appropriate year below to see resources, themes, homilies, and more for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time.

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A: Sunday August 30, 2026
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B: Sunday September 1, 2024
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C: Sunday August 31, 2025

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

• Sunday August 30, 2026

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

• First Reading – Jeremiah 20:7-9: The speaker 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

• Sunday September 1, 2024

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

• Sunday August 31, 2025

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.

More About Lectionary Cycles

Learn more about the difference between a Bible and a Lectionary, how the Lectionary is arranged, and translations of the Bible used at Mass for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time.