Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time
Monday August 21, 2028
First Reading: Ezekiel 24:15-23
Responsorial Psalm: Deuteronomy 32
Gospel: Matthew 19:16-22
Key Theme: Listening and letting go
Focus: Commitment
Summary: Ezekiel remains faithful during great loss. Jesus calls a young man to let go of what keeps him from following fully.
Challenge: Listen when God asks something difficult. Notice what you cling to and be willing to loosen your hold.
Action Step: Name one thing that gets in the way of following Jesus. Take one small step to let it go.
Verse to Remember: “Then come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21)
Listening When God Speaks
Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Year 2 brings together readings that can feel unsettling at first. They speak about loss, warning, and hard choices. These are not easy themes, but they are honest ones. They remind us that faith is not lived only in calm moments. It is also shaped in times of tension and decision.
In these readings, God asks people to pay attention. Ezekiel’s life becomes a sign for others. The song from Deuteronomy calls out forgetfulness and broken trust. Together, they show what happens when people drift away from the covenant and stop listening. Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Year 2 invites us to reflect on responsibility and memory.
The Gospel adds another layer to this day. A young man wants eternal life but struggles to let go. His story shows how easy it is to follow rules while holding back trust. These readings ask simple but direct questions. What do we cling to? What keeps us from following fully, even when the call is clear?
Daily Mass Readings for Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Year 2
- First Reading – Ezekiel 24:15-23: The LORD tells Ezekiel that his wife will die as a symbol of what will happen to Israel. The people are told not to mourn but to recognize that they will suffer due to their sins.
- Responsorial Psalm – Deuteronomy 32: The people have forgotten the God who gave them birth, angering the LORD. He declares He will hide His face from them, provoking them with a “no-people,” due to their unfaithfulness.
- Gospel – Matthew 19:16-22: A young man asks Jesus how to gain eternal life. Jesus instructs him to keep the commandments and, if he is seeking perfection, to sell his possessions and give to the poor. The man leaves sadly, attached to his wealth.
Cycle 1 is used in odd numbered years and Cycle 2 is used in even numbered years. The gospel is the same for both years. For odd numbered years see Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1.
If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.
Matthew 19:21
Themes for the Readings for Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 brings us messages from the Book of Ezekiel and the Gospel of Matthew. These readings challenge us to reflect on our faith and how we respond to God’s call in our lives.
- Obedience to God: In Ezekiel 24:15-23, Ezekiel obeys God’s command despite his personal loss. This reminds us to follow God’s will even in difficult times.
- Detachment from Wealth: In Matthew 19:16-22, Jesus tells the rich young man to sell his possessions. This teaches us that following Jesus means letting go of our attachment to material things.
- Sorrow and Grief: Ezekiel experiences personal grief, but he is told not to mourn publicly. This shows the challenge of balancing personal sorrow with our duties to God.
- Call to Perfection: Jesus calls the young man to be perfect by giving up his wealth. This highlights the need for complete commitment to God’s call.
- Testing of Faith: Both readings test the faith of individuals in different ways. Ezekiel’s faith is tested through personal loss, while the young man’s faith is tested by his attachment to wealth.
- Following God’s Commands: Ezekiel follows God’s difficult command without question. This teaches us about the importance of obedience in our faith journey.
- Eternal Life: The rich young man asks Jesus how to gain eternal life. This shows that eternal life requires more than just following commandments; it requires a deeper commitment.
These themes remind us of the challenges and demands of true faith. They encourage us to reflect on our own lives and how we respond to God’s call.
Reflection for Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 presents us with readings that challenge and inspire us in our faith journey. Ezekiel’s obedience in the face of personal loss and the rich young man’s struggle with his attachment to wealth teach us important lessons about faith, obedience, and commitment to God. These reflections explore these themes in depth, helping us to apply them to our own lives.
Testing of Faith
The readings for Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 show how God tests the faith of individuals in different ways. Ezekiel’s faith is tested through personal loss. God tells him his wife will die, but he must not mourn publicly. This command is hard to understand, yet Ezekiel obeys without question.
In the Gospel reading, the rich young man’s faith is tested by his attachment to wealth. Jesus tells him to sell his possessions and give to the poor. The young man goes away sad because he has many possessions. His attachment to wealth prevents him from following Jesus fully.
Both readings remind us that faith often involves difficult choices. Ezekiel’s obedience in the face of personal loss shows deep trust in God. The young man’s sadness highlights how material attachments can hinder our relationship with God.
We can learn from Ezekiel’s example to trust God even when we face personal challenges. From the young man, we learn the importance of letting go of what holds us back from fully committing to God. These lessons challenge us to examine our own faith and attachments.
Following God’s Commands
Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 teaches us about the importance of obedience in our faith journey. Ezekiel is commanded by God not to mourn his wife’s death publicly. This command is unusual and hard, yet Ezekiel obeys.
Ezekiel’s obedience shows his complete trust in God’s plan. He puts God’s command above his personal feelings. This teaches us that true obedience requires putting God first, even when it is difficult.
In the Gospel, the young man is also given a command by Jesus. He is told to sell his possessions and follow Jesus. However, he struggles to obey because he is very attached to his wealth.
Obedience to God’s commands is a central theme in both readings. Ezekiel shows us that true obedience comes from trust and faith in God. The young man shows us that our attachments can make obedience difficult.
We are called to follow God’s commands in our lives. This means trusting God and letting go of what holds us back. Obedience is not always easy, but it is essential in our journey of faith.
Eternal Life
The readings for Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 highlight the theme of eternal life. The rich young man asks Jesus how to gain eternal life. He wants to know what he must do to inherit eternal life.
Jesus tells the young man to keep the commandments. When the young man says he has kept them, Jesus tells him to sell his possessions and give to the poor. This command goes beyond following rules; it requires a deeper commitment.
Eternal life is not just about following commandments. It requires a complete commitment to God. The young man’s sadness shows that he is not ready to make this commitment because of his attachment to wealth.
This reading challenges us to reflect on our own commitment to God. Are we willing to let go of what holds us back? Are we ready to follow Jesus fully?
We learn that gaining eternal life requires more than just following rules. It requires a deep and total commitment to God. This commitment means letting go of our attachments and putting God first in our lives.
The readings for Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 provide deep insights into faith, obedience, and eternal life. They challenge us to trust God fully, follow His commands, and commit ourselves completely to Him. By reflecting on these themes, we can grow in our faith and strengthen our relationship with God.
Prayer
Lord, help us to trust You completely, follow Your commands faithfully, and commit our lives fully to You. Give us the strength to let go of what holds us back and to follow You with all our hearts. Amen.
Reflection Questions
- How do I respond when my faith is tested through difficult situations or personal challenges?
- What attachments in my life might be holding me back from fully committing to God?
- How can I grow in obedience to God’s commands, even when they are hard to understand or follow?
- What steps can I take to deepen my commitment to God and focus more on eternal life?
Homilies and Commentaries for Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
- Letting Go (Order of Preachers)
- You shall love your neighbour as yourself (Pray as You Go)
- The Trust to Surrender (Jesuits)
- What We Cannot Bear to Lose (Catholic Women Reflect)
- What Are You Holding Onto? (The Word Among Us)
- More Homilies and Reflections for Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Year 2
Letting Go
Ruth Anne Henderson asks what we may need to release in order to follow Jesus more freely. She says Christian life is not only about avoiding obvious wrongdoing. It also asks us to loosen our grip on possessions, comfort, and the desire to hold onto more than we need.
Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time becomes a call to open both hands and heart. Henderson points to Meister Eckhart and Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati as examples of letting go for the sake of God and the poor. Living simply is a start, but generosity goes further. She encourages giving instead of grasping and trusting that true treasure is found in following Christ.
You shall love your neighbour as yourself
What might you need to let go of so you can love God and others more freely? Pray As You Go focuses on Matthew 19:16–22 and the man who asks Jesus what he still lacks. The prayer invites us to notice how love already asks us to give our time, attention, actions, and resources to others.
Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time becomes a chance to ask Jesus the same question: “What do I still lack?” The reflection encourages us to notice anything we cling to that limits our freedom to follow Christ. Letting go can open more room for generosity, love, and a deeper response to Jesus’ invitation.
Featured music: “Gott ist nur Liebe” by the Taizé Community
The Trust to Surrender
Disappointment can reveal how hard it is to trust God when his answer is not the one we wanted. Edith Hudson reflects on Matthew 19:16–22, where the young man wants eternal life but struggles with Jesus’ call to give up what he holds dear and follow him.
Hudson connects this struggle with the Suscipe prayer of St. Ignatius, which asks God to receive our freedom, memory, understanding, and will. She admits that surrender is a lifelong process. Her invitation is simple but demanding: ask what God is asking you to release, then consider whether you are willing to trust him with it.
What We Cannot Bear to Lose
The hardest thing to surrender is often the thing we fear losing most. Annie points to the rich young man in Matthew 19:16–22, who wants to follow God but cannot let go of his wealth. She also connects this with Ezekiel 24:15–24, where grief and loss reveal how deeply we cling to what we love.
Annie explains that love is not the problem. The challenge is trusting God with the people, plans, comforts, and hopes we treasure. Christian surrender does not mean becoming cold or uncaring. It means learning to hold God’s gifts with gratitude without making them our deepest security. Faith grows when we can say, “Lord, I am afraid to lose this, but teach me to trust you more.”
What Are You Holding Onto?
What might be keeping you from following Jesus more freely? The Word Among Us focuses on Matthew 19:16–22 and the rich young man who cannot let go of his possessions. Jesus offers him a deeper life, but the comfort of what he already has makes it hard to say yes.
Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time invites us to look beyond money and possessions. We may also cling to resentment, habits, comfort, or familiar ways of living. The reflection encourages us to notice what keeps us from greater freedom, healing, generosity, and closeness to Christ. Jesus knows what holds us back and still invites us to let go and follow him.
More Homilies and Reflections for Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Year 2
Possessions (Order of Preachers: Sr. Louis Mary Passeri)
The Desire for More (Dynamic Catholic: Matthew Kelly)
Our Hearts Are Restless Until They Rest in God (Word on Fire: Bishop Robert Barron)
Resources
The Book of Ezekiel: Ezekiel’s Silent Witness
In the Book of Ezekiel, God often uses signs to teach a stubborn people. This passage fits that pattern. Ezekiel’s personal loss becomes a message about Jerusalem’s coming destruction. The prophet’s silence mirrors the shock that will leave the people unable to grieve in normal ways. On Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Year 2, this reading highlights responsibility within the covenant.
Ezekiel speaks to a community in exile that still refuses to accept why judgment came. The book stresses accountability and the cost of turning from God. This moment shows that sin damages both public life and private hearts. God’s message is severe, but it aims to wake the people and prepare them for future restoration.
Learn more about the message and structure of the Book of Ezekiel
The Book of Deuteronomy: A Song Of Forgotten Origins
Deuteronomy looks back on Israel’s story to remind the people who they are. This song of Moses exposes how easily they forgot the God who formed them as a nation. The passage fits the book’s role as a final warning before entering the land. On Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Year 2, it recalls the covenant’s demands.
The larger theme of Deuteronomy is choice. Blessing flows from faithfulness, while loss follows unfaithfulness. God hiding his face shows the pain caused by broken trust, not indifference. Even so, the song leaves room for repentance and return. It reminds the community that memory and loyalty matter in their relationship with God.
The Gospel of Matthew: Letting Go To Follow
Matthew’s Gospel presents Jesus as the teacher who reveals God’s kingdom. This encounter with the rich young man fits Matthew’s focus on discipleship and righteousness. Obedience to the law is good, but Jesus calls for a deeper surrender. On Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Year 2, the cost of following becomes clear.
Throughout Matthew, wealth and status can block trust in God. This scene shows how attachment can prevent freedom. The sadness of the young man reflects a divided heart. Matthew invites readers to examine what holds them back from full commitment to the way of Jesus and care for others.
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Coins On The Narrow Path
This image reflects the Gospel for Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Year 2, when Jesus asks the rich young man to let go of his wealth and follow him. The coins resting on a rough path invite quiet reflection on choices, attachment, and trust.
This artwork works well for bulletins, newsletters, and youth ministry settings as a visual prompt for discussion about what we hold onto and what we are called to release when following Jesus.
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Questions and Answers for Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
Why did Ezekiel not mourn his wife’s death in the first reading for Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?
God commanded Ezekiel not to mourn publicly to show the people that their own loss would be severe. It was a sign to them about the destruction of Jerusalem.
What is the main message of Ezekiel 24:15-23?
The main message is about obedience to God even in personal sorrow. It shows that God’s plans are more important than personal feelings.
How can we apply Ezekiel’s obedience in our lives?
We can apply Ezekiel’s obedience by trusting God’s plan for us, even when it is difficult. We should follow God’s commands with faith.
What does Ezekiel’s experience teach us about grief in the first reading for Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?
It teaches us that sometimes we need to put our trust in God even in times of personal loss. God’s plans are greater than our immediate understanding.
Why did Jesus tell the rich young man to sell his possessions in the Gospel for Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?
Jesus told the young man to sell his possessions to help him understand that following God requires total commitment. Wealth can be a barrier to fully following Jesus.
What does Jesus mean by “If you wish to be perfect”?
Jesus means that for those who want to be perfect, they must give up everything that hinders their relationship with God. This includes wealth and other attachments.
What lesson do we learn from the rich young man?
We learn that following Jesus requires more than just following rules. It requires giving up what we are attached to and putting God first.
How can we detach from wealth today?
We can detach from wealth by being generous and helping others. We should focus on spiritual riches rather than material ones.
What is the significance of Jesus’ call to the young man?
The significance is that following Jesus is a radical commitment. It is not just about doing good things but about giving up what holds us back.
How can the readings from Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 help us grow in faith?
They help us understand the importance of obedience, detachment, and total commitment to God. They challenge us to live out our faith fully.
Trust and Commitment in Faith
Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 offers lessons about faith, obedience, and commitment. In the first reading, Ezekiel is tested with a difficult command. God tells him not to mourn publicly after the loss of his wife. Ezekiel obeys without question, showing his deep trust in God. This teaches us that faith sometimes requires hard choices and complete reliance on God’s plan.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges the rich young man to sell his possessions and give to the poor. The young man struggles with this request because he is very attached to his wealth. This story shows that true commitment to God requires letting go of anything that holds us back. Jesus invites us to follow Him fully, with no reservations.
Both readings remind us of the importance of obedience and trust in God. Ezekiel’s example inspires us to follow God even in tough times, and the Gospel encourages us to examine our priorities. Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 calls us to put God first in our lives and trust Him with everything.
Your Turn
Take some time to reflect on the readings for Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2. Think about areas in your life where you may need to trust God more or let go of attachments that hold you back. Consider how Ezekiel’s obedience and Jesus’ invitation to the young man speak to your own faith journey.
Share your thoughts and experiences in the comment section. How have you experienced God calling you to trust or commit more deeply? What steps can you take to follow Him more fully? Join the conversation and encourage others to grow in their faith as well.
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