Friday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time

• First Reading – 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22B-27: I preach the Gospel willingly, serving all to win some for Christ. Like an athlete, I discipline myself for the eternal reward, so I am not disqualified after helping others.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 84: My heart longs for the presence of the Lord, and blessed are those who live in his house. God gives strength, grace, and protection to all who live with integrity.
• Gospel – Luke 6:39-42: Jesus uses a parable to teach that we should not judge others when we ourselves are blind to our own faults. First, address your own sins, then help others.

On Friday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, the readings from 1 Corinthians and the Gospel of Luke offer important lessons for our spiritual growth. They remind us of our call to serve others and to examine our own actions before judging others.

• Proclaiming the Gospel freely: St. Paul shares his commitment to spreading the Gospel without expecting rewards. This teaches us to share our faith with others out of love, not for personal gain.
• Becoming all things to all: St. Paul speaks about adapting to different people for the sake of their salvation. We are called to meet people where they are and lead them to Christ.
• Self-discipline in the race: St. Paul uses the image of a race to show the need for self-control and discipline in our Christian life. We must train ourselves spiritually to reach our goal of eternal life.
• Avoiding judgment of others: In the Gospel, Jesus warns against judging others while ignoring our own faults. We must look at ourselves first and correct our own mistakes before criticizing others.
• Removing the plank from our eye: Jesus uses the example of a person with a plank in their eye trying to remove a speck from another’s eye. This shows that we need humility and self-awareness in order to help others.
• Leading others wisely: Jesus speaks of the blind leading the blind. We must be careful about the examples we follow and the guidance we give, ensuring we are rooted in the truth.

The readings for Friday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 remind us to focus on our own spiritual growth and to lead others with humility. By living out these lessons, we can become better disciples of Christ.

The readings for Friday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 offer important lessons about discipline, humility, and service. St. Paul and Jesus both challenge us to examine how we live our faith, how we treat others, and how we grow closer to God. These reflections help us apply these teachings to our daily lives.

Running the Race of Faith

In the first reading for Friday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, St. Paul compares the Christian life to a race. He encourages us to have discipline and focus, just like an athlete who trains to win. This image reminds us that our spiritual journey requires effort, commitment, and perseverance. Faith is not passive; we are called to actively grow in holiness and virtue.

St. Paul’s words challenge us to examine how we are living our faith. Are we putting in the effort to pray, attend Mass, and help others? Just as a runner practices daily to improve, we need regular spiritual habits to stay strong in our relationship with God. Without discipline, it’s easy to drift away from what really matters.

This reading encourages us to keep our eyes on the goal, which is eternal life with God. Our efforts in this life are meant to help us reach that goal. The more we practice spiritual discipline, the closer we grow to God, and the more prepared we are to meet Him.

Fix Yourself First

In the Gospel for Friday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, Jesus tells us to avoid judging others before examining ourselves. He uses the image of a person trying to remove a speck from someone else’s eye while ignoring the plank in their own. This shows that we often see the faults of others clearly, but we are blind to our own mistakes.

This teaching challenges us to look honestly at our own lives. Before we point out someone else’s sins, we need to reflect on our own behavior and make changes. Jesus is not saying we should never correct others, but He wants us to do it with humility, knowing we have our own flaws to work on.

When we focus on fixing our own faults first, we become more compassionate and understanding. We are less likely to judge harshly because we know how hard it can be to overcome sin. This makes us better able to help others in a kind and loving way.

Serving Others with Love

Both the first reading and the Gospel for Friday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 remind us of the importance of serving others. St. Paul talks about becoming all things to all people so that he can save some. He adapts himself to different situations for the good of others, even though it requires sacrifice. Similarly, Jesus teaches that before helping others, we need to take care of our own spiritual life.

These readings show that serving others requires humility and love. St. Paul gives us an example of how to meet people where they are, without judging them or expecting anything in return. Jesus reminds us that before we can truly help others, we need to take an honest look at our own lives and grow in holiness.

When we serve others with a pure heart, we are imitating Christ, who gave everything for our sake. This requires us to be patient, humble, and selfless. By working on our own spiritual growth and offering ourselves in service, we bring others closer to God.

As we reflect on the readings for Friday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, we are reminded of the need to stay focused on our spiritual journey, avoid judging others, and serve with love. By following these lessons, we can deepen our faith and become better disciples of Christ.

Prayer

Lord, help us to stay disciplined in our faith, to focus on our own growth before judging others, and to serve with humility and love. Give us the strength to follow your path and lead others toward you. Amen.

Reflection Questions

• How can you develop spiritual discipline to grow stronger in your faith?
• Are there areas in your life where you focus on others’ faults instead of addressing your own?
• How can you serve others with humility and love, following St. Paul’s example?
• What steps can you take to stay focused on the goal of eternal life with God?

Seeing Our Own Faults First

In his reflection for Friday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, Bishop Robert Barron highlights Jesus’ command to stop judging others and focus on our own faults first. He points out how society often encourages self-affirmation and ignoring personal flaws. This leads us to overlook our guilt and act as if we are flawless.

Bishop Barron reminds us that true growth happens when we acknowledge our own sins before trying to correct others. By removing the “wooden beam” from our own eyes, we can better help others.

What date is Friday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?

The next date is Friday September 11, 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 Friday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 Cycle 1.

What are the Mass readings for Friday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?

The Mass readings for Friday September 11, 2026 are:
First Reading  – 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22B-27: Run to Win the Prize
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 84: Longing for God’s Presence
Gospel – Luke 6:39-42: Remove the Beam from Your Eye

What does Paul mean by becoming all things to all people in the first reading for Friday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?

Paul explains how he adapts to different people in order to help them understand the Gospel. This teaches us to be flexible and patient when sharing our faith with others.

Why does Paul talk about running a race?

St. Paul uses the example of a race to show how we need discipline in our spiritual life. He encourages us to stay focused on our faith and keep working towards eternal life.

What does Jesus mean by the blind leading the blind in the Gospel for Friday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?

Jesus warns against following or guiding others without being rooted in the truth. It reminds us to choose good leaders and to be careful in giving advice to others.

Why does Jesus talk about judging others?

Jesus teaches that we should not judge others without first looking at our own sins. He is reminding us to focus on fixing our own faults before criticizing someone else.

What is the meaning of removing the plank from your own eye?

Jesus talks about seeing our own sins clearly before trying to help others with their mistakes. This means we need to be humble and work on ourselves first.

How do these readings help us live better lives?

The readings for Friday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 teach us to be humble, disciplined, and kind. They remind us to avoid judging others and to focus on spreading the Gospel with love.