26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

Mass Readings for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

• First Reading – Amos 6:1A, 4-7: God condemns those living in luxury and indifference in Zion, foretelling their exile and the end of their extravagant celebrations.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 146: God brings justice, feeds the hungry, frees prisoners, heals the blind, and supports the downtrodden, orphan, and widow, reigning eternally over all generations.
• Second Reading – 1 Timothy 6:11-16: A man of God is urged to pursue virtues and hold onto eternal life, keeping commandments until Christ's return, honoring the immortal, unseen Sovereign.
• Gospel - Luke 16:19-31: Jesus narrated a parable contrasting a rich man's luxurious life with Lazarus, a destitute man. After death, Lazarus found comfort with Abraham, while the rich man suffered. The rich man's plea for relief and a warning for his brothers was denied, emphasizing the sufficiency of Moses and the prophets' teachings.

Themes for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

The readings for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C call us to care about others. In the first reading we are warned against being complacent while others suffer. The psalm praises the justice of God. In the second reading Paul reminds us to pursue virtues. In the gospel Jesus tells the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, where a wealthy man ignored the needs of a poor man every day.

• Leaving our comfort zones
• Helping those in need
• Corporal Works of Mercy
• Priorities

See the Homilies and Reflections section and the More Thoughts section for further expansion on these readings and some reflection questions for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C.

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Invisible - A Lesson Plan on Seeing Others

This Invisible lesson plan will help youth understand the importance of really seeing others and noticing what is going on in their lives. Sometimes we are so wrapped up in what is important to us that we don't see the needs of those around us.

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Prayer of Trust in God

This prayer of trust in God is based on Psalm 146, which speaks of depending on God about all other things. Psalm 146 is the responsorial psalm for this Sunday.

Do One of the Corporal Works of Mercy

The gospels show us that Jesus reached out to those in need. His life is a model for how we should interact with others. One way to do this is through the Corporal Works of Mercy. Consider looking at these and doing one with the Catholic youth in your life

How Are You Caring for the Poor?

From Bishop Robert Barron. "Pope Benedict XVI memorably said that the Church does three essential things: it evangelizes, it worships God, and it cares for the poor. This week, the words of Amos the prophet and Jesus’ parable of Lazarus and the rich man are meant to put us on the hook when it comes to the third task. How much do we care for those who are poor? Are we living lives of self-preoccupation and self-indulgence while our own brothers and sisters are suffering and starving at our gate?"

A Story of Two Men and Two Places

Jeff Cavins discusses Lazarus and the rich man, the gospel for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C.

Both: Praying and Doing

From Fr. Richard Rohr and the Center for Action and Contemplation. "I think this parable shows us we have a pattern in our culture that teaches us to insulate ourselves from suffering, to build up gates and walls and border fences that separate us from those who are suffering right outside of our comfort. But we come to find out that not only are we locking the suffering out, but we’re locking ourselves in—to a life that’s incredibly lonely. Those patterns rob us of life and community." Continue reading.

A Great Chasm

From Scott Hahn. "The rich and powerful are visited with woe and exile in today’s Liturgy—not for their wealth but for their refusal to share it; not for their power but for their indifference to the suffering at their door." Continue reading.

Lazarus and the Rich Man

Dr. Brant Pitre reflects. "The parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man is one of the most famous parables in the gospels. But, where exactly are Lazarus and the Rich Man in the after they both die and what can we glean from this parable about what can lead us to eternal life versus eternal suffering/eternal dying."

Don’t Forget the Poor

Also from Bishop Robert Barron. "When the conclave of 2013 was finishing up, and Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope, Cardinal Hummes of Brazil came up to him and whispered into his ear: 'Don’t forget the poor.' In emphasizing 'a poor Church for the poor,' Pope Francis is continuing an ancient and powerful tradition that stretches right back to the Bible, including our first reading and Gospel for today."

Rich Man, Poor Man

From Bishop Robert Barron. "We cannot remain indifferent to the poor, whom the Lord has determined to be a privileged route of access to his life and presence."

Misplaced Priorities

From Loyola Press. "A major theme in the Gospel of Luke is the importance of the care of the poor in the life of discipleship. In the parable found in today's Gospel, Jesus contrasts the life of a rich man and the poor man, Lazarus, who lives in the shadow of the rich man and his wealth. Both die." Continue reading.