9th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The 9th Sunday in Ordinary Time focuses on trusting God and building our lives on a solid foundation. In all three years, we hear about people who either follow God’s word or ignore it. The Gospel compares this to building a house on rock or on sand. Those who listen to Jesus and act on his words will stand strong in hard times.

The readings also remind us that faith is more than words. It must be lived out. We see examples of people who trust God with their hearts and not just their lips. God sees what is real. The 9th Sunday in Ordinary Time calls us to listen to God, follow his ways, and build our lives on something that lasts.

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

9th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
9th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
9th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

Mass Readings for the 9th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

See resources, homilies, and more for the 9th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A readings here.

• First Reading – Deuteronomy 11:18, 26-28, 32: Moses tells the people to keep God’s commandments close to them. Obeying the commandments will bring blessings, while disobedience will bring curses and lead them astray.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 31: I trust in the Lord as my refuge and stronghold. He will rescue and guide me. Those who hope in Him can be strong and take heart, for He saves with kindness.
• Second Reading – Romans 3:21-25, 28: God’s righteousness is shown through faith in Jesus Christ, available to all. We are justified by grace through Jesus’ sacrifice, not by following the law, but through faith alone.
• Gospel – Matthew 7:21-27: Jesus teaches that simply calling Him “Lord” is not enough. Only those who follow His teachings will stand firm like a house built on rock. Those who do not will fall like a house on sand.

Mass Readings for the 9th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

See resources, homilies, and more for the 9th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B readings here.

• First Reading – Deuteronomy 5:12-15: The Lord commands us to keep the sabbath day holy and to rest, just as He freed us from slavery in Egypt. We are to observe the sabbath in remembrance of His salvation.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 81: We are called to rejoice and sing to God, who freed us from oppression. We must worship only Him, our God, who delivered us from Egypt and continues to protect us.
• Second Reading – 2 Corinthians 4:6-11: We carry the treasure of God’s light in fragile vessels. Despite facing trials, we are not defeated. Through our struggles, the life of Jesus is made evident in us.
• Gospel –Mark 2:23-3:6 or 2:23-28: Jesus challenged the Pharisees’ understanding of the sabbath, showing that it is for doing good, not for following strict rules. He healed a man with a withered hand, angering them. They then plotted to kill Him.

Mass Readings for the 9th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

See resources, homilies, and more for the 9th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C readings here.

• First Reading – 1 Kings 8:41-43: Solomon prayed for God to hear the prayers of foreigners who come to honor Him, so all nations would know and fear God, acknowledging the temple as dedicated to His glory.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 117: We are called to praise the Lord and share His love with all nations. His steadfast love and faithfulness endure forever, and we are to spread this good news to the world.
• Second Reading – Galatians 1:1-2, 6-10: Paul warns the Galatians against following any gospel other than the one he preached. He emphasizes that his mission is to please God, not people, and that anyone distorting the gospel is to be cursed.
• Gospel – Luke 7:1-10: A Roman centurion, showing great faith, asked Jesus to heal his servant. Jesus praised his faith and healed the servant without even entering the house. The servant was restored to health.

Lookup Other Liturgical Dates in the Lectionary

The Bible and the Lectionary both contain Scripture, but they are used in different ways. The Bible is the full collection of all the books of the Old and New Testaments. It can be read for prayer, study, or personal reflection. The Lectionary is made for Mass. It includes selected readings from the Bible that are arranged to match the Church’s seasons. This way, Catholics hear important parts of Scripture throughout the year.

The Lectionary is divided into Sundays, weekdays, and feast days. Each set of readings has a lectionary number, which helps organize the calendar. Sunday readings follow a three-year cycle using Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Weekday readings follow a two-year cycle. The Gospel of John is used during special times. On the 9th Sunday in Ordinary Time, like all Sundays, the Lectionary gives a specific Gospel, psalm, and first reading. This plan helps Catholics grow in faith and stay connected to the life of Christ.

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 9th Sunday in Ordinary Time reminds us to build our lives on something solid. In the Gospel, Jesus talks about two builders. One builds on rock, the other on sand. The house on rock stands firm in storms. The house on sand falls. This story shows how important it is to listen to God and live by his word.

The readings from all three years point to this same truth. It is not enough to say we believe. We must act. Our actions show what is in our hearts. God sees if we are sincere or just pretending. He wants real faith that leads to good choices.

The 9th Sunday in Ordinary Time also invites us to trust God in every part of life. Hard times will come. If our trust is in God, we will not fall. If we rely on ourselves or empty words, we will not stand.

Faith that is lived, not just spoken, makes us strong. It helps us love others and follow Jesus even when it’s hard. When we live this way, we are like the builder who chose the rock.

The 9th Sunday in Ordinary Time is a good time to look at your own life. Are you building on solid ground or on things that will not last? The readings challenge us to take Jesus’ words seriously and live them out every day.

Think about how these readings speak to your life. Have you had moments when your faith helped you stay strong? Or times when things felt shaky? Share your experience in the comment section. Your story might help someone else reflect more deeply.