Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time
Monday September 7, 2026
Daily Mass Readings for Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
- First Reading – 1 Corinthians 5:1-8: You must remove sin from your community, just as old yeast is removed from dough. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed, so live with sincerity and truth, not with sin.
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 5: God rejects evil and those who do wrong. He protects and brings joy to those who seek refuge in Him and love His name.
- Gospel – Luke 6:6-11: Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, challenging the religious leaders by asking if it was right to do good or evil on the Sabbath. They became angry and began to plot against Him.
I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?
Luke 6:9
Themes for the Readings for Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 invites us to reflect on important lessons from St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians and the Gospel of Luke. These readings challenge us to live out our faith with sincerity and courage, even when it is difficult.
- Confronting Sin: St. Paul speaks strongly against the sin in the Corinthian community. This shows the importance of addressing wrongdoing in our own lives and communities.
- Sincerity and Truth: Paul urges the Corinthians to celebrate with sincerity and truth. He emphasizes living in a way that is honest and true to our faith.
- Healing on the Sabbath: In the Gospel, Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath, challenging the Pharisees’ strict interpretation of the law. This highlights that compassion and mercy should guide our actions, even over strict rules.
- Hardness of Heart: The Pharisees’ reaction to Jesus healing on the Sabbath reveals their hard hearts. This warns us to be open to God’s work in unexpected ways.
- Faith in Action: Jesus shows that faith must be lived out through action. Healing the man on the Sabbath demonstrates that love and service are more important than rigid rules.
- Judgment and Mercy: St. Paul calls the community to judge sin, but also to cleanse themselves of old ways. This teaches us that while we must confront sin, we should also embrace mercy and renewal.
Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 challenges us to examine our lives and actions closely. By embracing truth, mercy, and sincere faith, we can better follow Christ’s example.
Thoughts for Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 offers valuable lessons about living out our faith with honesty, compassion, and open hearts. Through St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians and the Gospel of Luke, we are called to examine how our actions align with our beliefs. These reflections invite us to consider how we can better follow Christ’s example in our daily lives.
Living Honestly and Faithfully
On Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, St. Paul challenges the Corinthians to live with honesty and faithfulness. He speaks against the sin in their community, urging them to clean out the old ways that are harming them. This is a call to live with integrity, where actions match beliefs.
Honesty and faithfulness are vital in our relationships with God and each other. St. Paul wants the Corinthians to avoid hypocrisy because it damages trust and weakens the community. When we are true to our beliefs, we build stronger connections with others and deepen our faith.
Living honestly and faithfully means examining our own lives and making sure we are not just saying the right things, but also doing them. It’s a daily effort to align our words and actions with the teachings of Christ. This reflection from Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 invites us to be consistent and sincere in our faith journey.
The Dangers of a Hard Heart
Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 also shows us the dangers of having a hard heart. In the Gospel, the Pharisees are more concerned with rules than with the well-being of the man Jesus heals. Their hearts are closed to the mercy and love that Jesus demonstrates.
A hard heart is dangerous because it makes us blind to what really matters. The Pharisees missed the significance of the miracle of healing because they were stuck on their interpretation of the law. This teaches us to stay open to God’s work, even when it challenges our own ideas and comfort zones.
We need to be careful not to let our hearts become hard like the Pharisees’. It’s easy to focus on rules and forget the importance of love and compassion. Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 reminds us to keep our hearts soft and open, ready to respond to others with kindness and mercy.
Choosing Compassion Over Rules
A common theme in Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 is choosing compassion over strict rules. Both St. Paul and Jesus show that love and mercy should guide our actions, not just a rigid following of rules. This is a call to prioritize the well-being of others over legalistic thinking.
St. Paul confronts the Corinthians about sin, but his ultimate goal is to bring them back to a sincere and truthful way of living. He is not just enforcing rules but encouraging them to live in a way that builds up the community. In the Gospel, Jesus heals on the Sabbath, showing that doing good is more important than following the letter of the law.
Choosing compassion over rules means seeing the person in front of us and responding with love. It’s not about ignoring rules, but understanding that the heart of the law is love and mercy. Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 challenges us to put people first, following Jesus’ example of healing and kindness.
As we reflect on the readings from Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, we are reminded to live with integrity, choose compassion over rules, and keep our hearts open to God’s work. These teachings guide us to be more faithful and loving in our interactions with others, drawing us closer to the example of Christ.
Prayer
Lord, help us live with honesty and faithfulness. Soften our hearts to be open to Your love and to show kindness to others. Guide us to choose compassion over rigid rules, and to follow Your example of mercy every day. Amen.
Homilies and Reflections for Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
Word On Fire: Beyond Guru to Savior
In this reflection for Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, Bishop Robert Barron delves into the biblical story where Jesus heals a man with a withered hand, using it as a lens to discuss the cultural tendency to see Jesus as merely a teacher rather than a savior. Bishop Barron notes that modern ideologies often focus on self-esteem and self-reliance, which can clash with the biblical perspective. According to the biblical view, human beings are fundamentally flawed due to sin, and therefore in need of salvation. Jesus is portrayed not just as a moral guide, but as someone who rescues us in a way we couldn’t accomplish on our own.
Dynamic Catholic: Diagnose Your Inner Sickness
In a reflection for Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 2, Matthew Kelly explores the Gospel of Luke 6:6-11, where Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. Kelly points out the scribes and Pharisees’ sick desire to accuse Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. He challenges us to examine our own lives for this same sickness—where we might find joy in others’ downfalls or engage in harmful gossip. Kelly encourages us to let the Gospel transform us, helping us grow in holiness and become better versions of ourselves.
Order of Preachers: Standing Up to Pride, Standing Up to Arrogance
In this reflection for Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 2, Fr. Jim Marchionda focuses on pride and arrogance, drawing from St. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians: “You are inflated with pride, and your boasting is not appropriate.” Fr. Jim encourages us to reflect on these words, not only when we see pride in others but also when it creeps into our own hearts. He suggests using the refrain from the responsorial psalm, “Lead me in your justice, Lord,” as a mantra to stay humble and grounded in God’s will.
USCCB Reflection: Scars as Symbols of Healing and Transformation
This video reflection for Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 discusses the significance of scars, using a personal example of a minor hand scar to illustrate how they symbolize violations of what was once perfect. The message emphasizes that scars can also represent healing and transformation, as evidenced by Jesus’ scars after his resurrection. It highlights that even in our wounded areas, God’s grace can turn violation into resurrection, healing our wounds and bringing transformation to our lives, offering hope for a changed world through faith and prayer.
Questions and Answers for Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
What date is Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?
The next date is Monday September 7, 2026.
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 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1.
What are the Mass readings for Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?
The Mass readings for Monday September 7, 2026 are:
First Reading – 1 Corinthians 5:1-8: Confronting Immorality
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 5: God’s Justice
Gospel – Luke 6:6-11: Doing Good on the Sabbath
Why does St. Paul speak so strongly against sin in the first reading for Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?
St. Paul speaks strongly against sin to protect the community from harm. He wants the Corinthians to live in a way that honors God and helps each other grow in faith.
What does St. Paul mean by sincerity and truth in 1 Corinthians?
St. Paul is encouraging the Corinthians to live honestly and faithfully. He wants them to avoid hypocrisy and be true to their beliefs.
Why does St. Paul call for judgment of sin in the community?
St. Paul calls for judgment of sin to keep the community pure and focused on God. He wants the Corinthians to support each other in living righteous lives.
How can we live out sincerity and truth like St. Paul asks?
We can live out sincerity and truth by being honest in our words and actions. This means living in a way that reflects our faith every day.
Why does Jesus heal on the Sabbath in the Gospel for Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?
Jesus heals on the Sabbath to show that helping others is more important than strict rules. He teaches that love and compassion should guide our actions.
What does the reaction of the Pharisees teach us in Luke’s Gospel?
The reaction of the Pharisees teaches us about the dangers of a hard heart. They were so focused on rules that they missed the importance of mercy and kindness.
How can we apply the lesson of healing on the Sabbath to our lives?
We can apply this lesson by putting love and care for others above rigid rules. It reminds us to be compassionate and to help those in need.
Leave a Reply