The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary on the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time challenge us to consider humility as the ground from which we make our choices.
The Reading from the Prophet Ezekiel rejects the idea that punishment is transferred from one generation to the next.
* [18:25] The LORD’s way is not fair: this chapter rejects the idea that punishment is transferred from one generation to the next and emphasizes individual responsibility and accountability. (Ezekiel, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 25 presents expressions of confidence in God who forgives and guides.
* [Psalm 25] A lament. Each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Such acrostic Psalms are often a series of statements only loosely connected. The psalmist mixes ardent pleas (Ps 25:1–2, 16–22) with expressions of confidence in God who forgives and guides. (Psalms, PSALM 25 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Philippians is a Plea for Unity and Humility
* [2:1–11] The admonition to likemindedness and unity (Phil 2:2–5) is based on the believers’ threefold experience with Christ, God’s love, and the Spirit. The appeal to humility (Phil 2:3) and to obedience (Phil 2:12) is rooted in christology, specifically in a statement about Christ Jesus (Phil 2:6–11) and his humbling of self and obedience to the point of death (Phil 2:8). (Philippians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus presents the Parable of the Two Sons.
* [21:28–32] The series of controversies is interrupted by three parables on the judgment of Israel (Mt 21:28–22:14) of which this, peculiar to Matthew, is the first. The second (Mt 21:33–46) comes from Mark (12:1–12), and the third (Mt 22:1–14) from Q; see Lk 14:15–24. This interruption of the controversies is similar to that in Mark, although Mark has only one parable between the first and second controversy. As regards Matthew’s first parable, Mt 21:28–30 if taken by themselves could point simply to the difference between saying and doing, a theme of much importance in this gospel (cf. Mt 7:21; 12:50); that may have been the parable’s original reference. However, it is given a more specific application by the addition of Mt 21:31–32. The two sons represent, respectively, the religious leaders and the religious outcasts who followed John’s call to repentance. By the answer they give to Jesus’ question (Mt 21:31) the leaders condemn themselves. There is much confusion in the textual tradition of the parable. Of the three different forms of the text given by important textual witnesses, one has the leaders answer that the son who agreed to go but did not was the one who did the father’s will. Although some scholars accept that as the original reading, their arguments in favor of it seem unconvincing. The choice probably lies only between a reading that puts the son who agrees and then disobeys before the son who at first refuses and then obeys, and the reading followed in the present translation. The witnesses to the latter reading are slightly better than those that support the other.
* [21:31] Entering…before you: this probably means “they enter; you do not.”
* [21:32] Cf. Lk 7:29–30. Although the thought is similar to that of the Lucan text, the formulation is so different that it is improbable that the saying comes from Q. Came to you…way of righteousness: several meanings are possible: that John himself was righteous, that he taught righteousness to others, or that he had an important place in God’s plan of salvation. For the last, see note on Mt 3:14–15. (Matthew, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB, n.d.)
Anish Kochanichottil, SJ, comments that the “inordinate attachment” Saint Ignatius of Loyola talks about is what pulls him away from doing what is right and what is good in the sight of God.
This makes me ask myself, especially when I am unhappy, “What am I clinging to? What are my attachments? It could be a person, an idea, an expectation, power or possession.”
Today I am invited to change, to let go, to make the right decisions in order to be free and happy. The second reading reminds me that Jesus, even though was in the form of God, did not cling to equality with God. He did not cling to a good life or comfort. He emptied himself, became like one of us and died on the cross.
This self-emptying is what all of us are asked to ponder today. You and I need that trust and faith in our heavenly Father to let go, to change and to become better. (Kochanichottil, 2026)
Don Schwager quotes “The Father and his two sons,” author unknown, from the 5th century A.D.
"Who is this if not the God who created all people and loves them with a fatherly affection, the God who preferred to be loved as a father rather than feared as a lord, even though he was Lord by nature? On this account, at the beginning of the commandments of the law, he did not say, 'You shall fear the Lord with all your heart' but 'you shall love the Lord with all your heart' (Deuteronomy 6:5). To elicit love is not characteristic of a lord but of a father. Of the two sons in this parable, the older one represents the Gentiles, since they come from their father Noah. The younger son represents the Jews, who come from Abraham. 'And approaching the first, he said, "Son, go and work today in my vineyard." 'Today' refers to this present age. How did he speak to his sons? He didn't address them face to face like man, but he spoke to the heart, like God. Man only utters words to the ear, but God supplies understanding to the mind." (excerpt from an incomplete Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, HOMILY 40) (Schwager, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winker comments on the texts for today. Ezekiel speaks about the bad one who turns to the good and the good one who turns to evil and punishment. The person is getting what he has chosen. The Philippians were liked by Paul and he teaches them to consider the other as more important than themselves and live a life of service. Jesus emptied Himself of his divinity and took the form of a slave and a human being. He is a Being in the form of God, yet he emptied Himself. Jesus took on our flesh. How much did he know? He was one like us except in sin. Friar Jude ponders if this is the exaltation, the reward, or is the cross the exaltation where we see who God truly is on the cross most clearly. In Hebrew literature citing two extremes means to include everything in between. ALL bow down to the Holy Name. Friar Jude notes this requires us to treat It with reference too.
The Word Among Us Meditation on Philippians 2:1-11 comments that when we hear St. Paul calling us to be “of the same mind” and “united in heart,” it can seem almost impossible (Philippians 2:2). It’s hard enough staying civil and polite, but to actually be united in heart and mind? Can we even do that? Paul seems to think we can. So let’s consider how we can apply his words to our lives today.
So how can we embrace this calling? One way is to ask yourself if you should be spending less time taking in the news, political commentary, or celebrity gossip and more time serving God. The simple act of putting your energy toward listening to God and being among his people will bring down dividing walls and empower you to follow Jesus’ command to love all of your brothers and sisters.
So enjoy the benefits of our connected world, but remember to guard the true, lasting unity of your family in Christ.
“Jesus, help me to hear your call to unity and respond with love.” (Meditation on Philippians 2:1-11, 2026)
Father Richard Rohr reflects on his first encounter with the writings of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (1873–1897) as a young man.
It was her underlying spirituality, complemented by Francis of Assisi and Franciscanism, that got me through the seminary. It wasn’t the academic teaching I was being given by the professors, which was still tainted with legalism, and where the unspoken premise was basically, “If you’re perfect, if you do it right, God will love you.” That was the underlying assumption, and it was—and still is—utterly false. I guess I trusted Thérèse because what she wrote felt like common sense to me. Most of my confessors were legalists, and I would just quietly think to myself, “Okay, they’re going to say that, but I know it’s not true.”
It was an important antidote to my own inclination to perfectionism as a “one” on the Enneagram (although I didn’t have the language for it at the time). We “one’s” set a standard of perfection by our own self-centered definition, and so we’re always defeated. We define the rules and then we can’t live up to them. Thérèse is the best counterweight to any theology or spirituality of perfectionism. She was my liberation. I just didn’t believe in it anymore. It simply wasn’t true. (Rohr, n.d.)
We seek the Wisdom of the Spirit to be open to those events in life which can be opportunities to affirm our “Yes” to work in the vineyard of the Lord even if our initial response was non committal or “No”.
References
Ezekiel, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 27, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ezekiel/18?
Kochanichottil, A. (2026, September 27). Daily Reflection September 27, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved September 27, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-september-27-2026
Matthew, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 27, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/21?28
Meditation on Philippians 2:1-11. (2026, September 27). The Word Among Us. Retrieved September 27, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/09/27/1678507/
Philippians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 27, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/philippians/2?
Psalms, PSALM 25 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved September 27, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/25?4
Rohr, R. (n.d.). An Influential Teacher. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 27, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/an-influential-teacher/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Which Son Did the Father's Will? Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 27, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?
