23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

The 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time highlights the themes of discipleship and the costs associated with following Jesus. The readings encourage us to consider what we must be willing to give up to be true followers of Christ. Jesus teaches that following Him may require difficult choices, like prioritizing our faith over personal and even family interests.

This Sunday calls us to assess our own commitment to our faith, urging us to think deeply about the sacrifices we are prepared to make to live as Jesus did, serving God and others before ourselves.

Here are some resources for this Sunday for your youth ministry program, CCD, Children’s Liturgy of the Word, or family lectio divina. See how to determine the correct year.

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

Mass Readings for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

See resources, homilies, and more for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A readings here.

• First reading – Ezekiel 33:7-9: I appoint you as watchman for the house of Israel. If you fail to warn the wicked and they die in guilt, you’re responsible. If you warn them and they don’t turn, they die, but you’re saved.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 95: Let us sing joyfully to the Lord, acclaiming our salvation, and coming into His presence with thanksgiving. But heed the warning not to harden our hearts, reflecting on past disobedience.
• Second reading – Romans 13:8-10: Owing love to one another fulfills the law. The commandments are summarized by loving your neighbor as yourself, for love does no evil and is the complete fulfillment of the law.
• Gospel – Matthew 18:15-20: If a brother sins, discuss it privately, then with witnesses if needed, and finally with the church. What is agreed on earth reflects in heaven, and where people gather in Jesus’s name, he is present.

Mass Readings for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

See resources, homilies, and more for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B readings here.

• First Reading – Isaiah 35:4-7A: God promises to deliver and heal, transforming the afflicted and the barren landscapes into flourishing life.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 146: The Lord is forever faithful, providing justice, sustenance, and freedom, supporting the oppressed and thwarting the wicked, ruling through all generations.
• Second Reading – James 2:1-5: Treating people differently based on wealth contradicts faith in Jesus Christ. God honors the poor in spirit, promising them His kingdom.
• Gospel – Mark 7:31-37: Jesus healed a deaf man with a speech issue in the Decapolis. Despite Jesus’ instructions, the news of his miraculous power spread widely among the astounded witnesses.

Mass Readings for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

See resources, homilies, and more for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C readings here.

• First Reading – Wisdom 9:13-18B: Understanding God’s intentions is beyond human capacity without divine wisdom and the Holy Spirit, as earthly concerns often cloud our judgment.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 90: God, timeless and eternal, teaches us to value our days and seeks our return to righteousness, offering mercy and favor throughout our fleeting lives.
• Second Reading – Philemon 9-10, 12-17: Paul, imprisoned, sends Onesimus back to Philemon, not as a slave but as a beloved brother, urging Philemon to welcome him as he would Paul himself.
• Gospel – Luke 14:25-33: Jesus teaches that following him requires prioritizing him above all personal relationships and possessions, emphasizing the need to consider the sacrifices involved, much like planning a construction or a battle.

More About Lectionary Cycles

A Bible includes all of God’s Word, while a Lectionary contains selected Bible readings for Mass. The Lectionary is organized according to the Church’s liturgical year, aligning readings with specific Sundays, like the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. This organization helps us reflect on different biblical themes each week. The translations of the Bible used in the Lectionary are approved by the Church to ensure they are appropriate for worship. To understand more about how the Lectionary is structured and the translations used, visit this USCCB’s resource. This will help you see how readings for each Sunday are chosen.

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