Gospel: August 21, 2026

August 21, 2026 (Friday)

20th Week in Ordinary Time

Psalter: Week 4 (White)

St. Pius X, pope

Ps 107:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Give thanks to the Lord; his love is everlasting.

1st Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-14

The hand of the Lord was upon me. (…) The Lord said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live again?” I said, “Lord God, only you know that.” He then said, “Speak on my behalf concerning these bones; say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! The Lord says: I am going to put spirit in you and make you live. I shall put sinews on you and make flesh grow on you; I shall cover you with skin and give you my spirit, that you may live. And you will know that I am the Lord.”

I prophesied as I had been commanded; (…) the bones joined together. I looked and saw that they had sinews, that flesh was growing on them; and that he was covering them with skin. But there was no spirit in them.

So the Lord said to me, “Speak on my behalf and call on the spirit, son of man! Say to the spirit: This is the word of the Lord: spirit, come from the four winds. Breathe into these dead bones and let them live!” I prophesied as he had commanded me and breath entered them; they came alive, standing on their feet—a great, immense army!

He then said to me, “Son of man, these bones are all Israel. They keep saying: ‘Our bones are dry, hope has gone, it is the end of us.’ So prophesy! Say to them: This is what the Lord says: I am going to open your tombs; I shall bring you out of your tombs, my people; and lead you back to the land of Israel. You will know that I am the Lord, O my people! when I open your graves and bring you out of your graves; when I put my spirit in you, and you live. I shall settle you in your land; and you will know that I, the Lord, have done what I said I would do.”

Gospel: Matthew 22:34-40

When the Pharisees heard how Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they assembled together. One of them, a lawyer, questioned him to test him, “Teacher, which commandment of the law is the greatest?”

Jesus answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and the most important of the commandments. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets are founded on these two commandments.”

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Reflection:

Loving God and others is inseparable.

We are reminded of the essence of Christian living, distilled into two profound commandments: love God and love our neighbor. Jesus declares that these commandments are not separate but deeply intertwined, forming the foundation upon which all the Law and the Prophets rest. To love God with all our heart, soul, and mind means offering Him our entire being—our desires, thoughts, and purpose. It is a call to prioritize Him, recognizing that He alone is worthy of our deepest devotion. This love draws us into a relationship that transforms our hearts and aligns our lives with His will.

But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves, challenging us to reflect His love outwardly. This love is not mere sentiment but action—kindness, forgiveness, and compassion toward others. It bridges divides and brings healing to a fractured world.

These commandments remind us that loving God and others is inseparable, calling us to live a life of selfless, transformative love. How will you reflect on this today?

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