24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time reminds us that God is full of mercy and wants us to forgive others. In one Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about a servant who is forgiven but refuses to forgive someone else. In another, we hear stories about lost things being found—a sheep, a coin, and a son. These show how happy God is when we turn back to Him.

The other readings teach us to let go of anger, to ask for a clean heart, and to live out our faith with real actions. Paul says God showed mercy to him, even though he had sinned. Isaiah and the Psalms show trust in God’s help and kindness. Faith means more than words—it must be shown in how we treat others. The message is clear: God forgives us, and we must forgive, trust, and live in a new way.

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

24th Sunday in Ordinary TimeYear A
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

Mass Readings for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

See resources, homilies, and more for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A readings here.

• First Reading – Sirach 27:30-28:7: Release anger and forgive others to ensure your own sins are forgiven, recalling death and God’s commandments as motivations to cease sinning and live in peace.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 103: Celebrate the Lord’s generous mercy; He forgives sins, heals, and does not hold grudges, treating us with love far greater than our actions deserve.
• Second Reading – Romans 14:7-9: Our lives and deaths are dedicated to the Lord, reflecting Christ’s dominion over both the living and the dead, for whom he died and rose.
• Gospel – Matthew 18:21-35: Jesus teaches about unlimited forgiveness through a parable where a king forgives a servant’s large debt. The servant then harshly demands a small debt from another, leading to his punishment.

Mass Readings for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

See resources, homilies, and more for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B readings here.

• First Reading – Isaiah 50:5-9A: God supports me, so I face opposition without shame or fear, confident that no one can prove me wrong.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 116: I rejoice in God’s kindness as He listens and saves me from death, allowing me to live in His presence.
• Second Reading – James 2:14-18: Claiming faith without action is useless. True faith is demonstrated through caring deeds, not just words.
• Gospel – Mark 8:27-35: Jesus challenges His followers to recognize Him as the Messiah and teaches about self-denial and the hardships of following Him, promising life to those who sacrifice for His sake.

Mass Readings for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

See resources, homilies, and more for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C readings here.

• First Reading – Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14: God told Moses about Israel’s idolatry and planned to destroy them, but Moses reminded God of His promise to the patriarchs, and God relented.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 51 I ask God for mercy and a clean heart. I promise to praise Him, knowing He accepts a humble and repentant spirit.
• Second Reading – 1 Timothy 1:12-17: I thank Christ for His mercy and grace, saving me, the worst sinner, to show His patience and offer eternal life to believers. Honor and glory to God forever.
• Gospel – Luke 15:1-32: Jesus tells parables about a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son to show God’s joy in finding and welcoming back the lost, emphasizing repentance and forgiveness.

Lookup Other Liturgical Dates in the Lectionary

The Bible is the full collection of sacred writings. The Lectionary is a book that contains selected Bible readings used at Mass. These readings follow the Church calendar and are organized by liturgical seasons. The 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time has its own readings chosen for that day. Each Mass is linked to a lectionary number to help find the correct texts.

Sundays follow a three-year cycle: Years A, B, and C. Weekdays follow a two-year cycle: Year I and Year II. Over time, this setup helps Catholics hear many parts of the Bible at Mass. In the United States, the readings come from the New American Bible. This version is approved for use at Mass and is used in the Lectionary.

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 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time reminds us that forgiveness is not a choice—it is a must. Jesus tells a story about a servant who was forgiven a large debt but would not forgive a smaller one. The message is clear: we must forgive others just as God forgives us.

In other years, we hear how God rejoices when the lost return. The lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son show how much God cares. He does not give up on us. He waits and welcomes us back with joy.

We are also told to let go of anger. Sirach tells us that if we hold onto hurt, we should not expect forgiveness ourselves. Paul says Jesus forgave him, even though he had done wrong. That mercy is a gift for all.

The 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time is about second chances. God offers mercy, and He wants us to show the same to others.

The 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time is a chance to look at how we forgive. Is there someone you need to forgive? Or someone you need to ask for forgiveness?

Read the Bible passages again. Think about how these words speak to you. Share a comment about what stands out or how God has shown you mercy.