23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

The 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time reminds us that we are called to care for one another. In all three years, the readings speak about helping others stay close to God. If someone is going the wrong way, we should gently correct them. Love should guide our actions. We are not meant to live our faith alone. God wants us to support each other.

Another theme is that God gives us wisdom and guidance. We cannot rely only on our own thinking. The readings remind us to seek God’s help and listen to His voice. When we follow His ways, we help build a community of faith. The 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time calls us to act with love, speak with truth, and walk with God.

Click on the appropriate year below to see resources, themes, homilies, and more. 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

The 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A teaches that faith grows in community. God asks us to care for each other and to speak up when someone is moving away from what is good. Love is the guide for every choice we make. Jesus shows how to correct others with patience and hope. He promises to be with us when we gather in His name. This day reminds us to walk together and help one another follow His way.

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

The 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B shows that God heals and renews His people. The readings tell us that God brings strength to the weak and hope to those who suffer. Jesus heals a man who cannot hear or speak, and this shows His care for every person. We are reminded to treat all people with fairness and kindness. God opens our hearts so we can listen to His word and share His love with others.

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

The 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C teaches that following Jesus takes real commitment. Jesus asks us to put Him first and to think carefully about our choices. He tells us to carry our cross and trust Him in all things. The readings show that we need God’s wisdom to understand His ways. They also remind us that life is short and should be used well. This day calls us to rely on God and follow Jesus with a willing heart.

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.

Lookup Other Liturgical Dates in the Lectionary

The Bible and the Lectionary both include Scripture, but they are used in different ways. The Bible is the full collection of all the sacred books, both Old and New Testaments. People can read it in any order for study or prayer. The Lectionary, on the other hand, is a book used at Mass. It offers a set schedule of readings, so the Church hears key parts of Scripture throughout the year. The 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, like other Sundays, has its own assigned readings in the Lectionary.

The Lectionary is organized by days and seasons. It has different readings for Sundays, weekdays, and feast days. Each set of readings has a lectionary number, which helps people find and prepare for Mass. The Sunday readings follow a three-year cycle: Year A uses Matthew, Year B uses Mark, and Year C uses Luke. The Gospel of John is used during special seasons. The 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time can fall in any of those years.

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

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Hands Helping Life Grow

This artwork is a good fit for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. It reflects care, guidance, and the shared work of nurturing one another in faith.

You are welcome to download it for use in parish bulletins, newsletters, or ministry materials. It can help draw attention to the themes of support, community, and the call to walk together with love.

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Only current paid subscribers have the rights to use the artwork.

The 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time teaches us how to care for each other. In every cycle, we hear that love means helping others grow closer to God. If someone is going down a bad path, we should try to guide them back. We do this with kindness, not to judge, but to help.

Jesus reminds us that when we gather in His name, He is with us. We are not alone. God is near when we support one another in love and truth. The Church is a family, and each person matters.

Another message from this Sunday is to trust in God’s wisdom. We do not always know what to do. But God speaks through Scripture, prayer, and the people around us. We must listen with open hearts.

The 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time calls us to be brave and gentle. Speak up when needed, but always with love. God is with those who act in love and peace.

The readings for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time ask us to look at how we treat others. Do we speak up when someone is lost? Do we stay quiet when we should help? Think about how you live this in your own life.

Take a few minutes to read the Gospel and ask what it means for you. Then, share your thoughts in the comment section. Your story may help someone else. Let’s grow together as a people of love and truth.