Gospel: September 16, 2026
September 16, 2026 (Wednesday)
24th Week in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 4 (Red)
St. Cornelius, pope, & St. Cyprian, bishop, martyrs
Ps 33:2-3, 4-5, 12, 22
Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
1st Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 31—13: 13
Be that as it may, set your hearts on the most precious gifts, and I will show you a much better way.
If I could speak all the human and angelic tongues, but had no love, I would only be sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, knowing secret things, with all kinds of knowledge, and had faith great enough to remove mountains, but had no love, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I had to the poor, and even give up my body to be burned, if I am without love, it would be of no value to me.
Love is patient, kind, without envy. It is not boastful or arrogant. It is not ill mannered, nor does it seek its own interest. Love overcomes anger and forgets offenses. It does not take delight in wrong, but rejoices in truth. Love excuses everything, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love will never end. Prophecies may cease, tongues be silent and knowledge disappear. For knowledge grasps something of the truth and prophecy as well. And when what is perfect comes, everything imperfect will pass away. When I was a child, I thought and reasoned like a child, but when I grew up, I gave up childish ways. Likewise, at present, we see dimly, as in a mirror, but, then, it shall be face to face. Now, we know, in part, but then I will know as I am known. Now, we have faith, hope and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love.
Gospel: Luke 7:31-35
And Jesus said, “What comparison can I use for the people? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace, about whom their companions complain, ‘We piped you a tune and you wouldn’t dance; we sang funeral songs and you wouldn’t cry.’ Remember John: he didn’t eat bread or drink wine, and you said, ‘He has an evil spirit.’ Next, came the Son of Man, eating and drinking; and you say, ‘Look, a glutton for food and wine, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But the children of Wisdom always recognize her work.”
Reflection:
You cannot please everyone.
They say: “You cannot please everyone.” When John the Baptist came to prepare the way for Jesus, he neither ate bread nor drank wine. That’s why people said that John was out of his mind. When Jesus came to eat and drink with sinners, they said that he was a glutton and a drunkard. No matter what we do, good or bad, others will say something, and not everyone will agree with us. Let’s not pay too much attention to what others say, especially if it doesn’t bring any good. Let’s avoid making assumptions; what matters is that we do what is good and follow the will of the Lord.
