Following God, His Commandments, Obeying Him, Reading His Bible Words Daily, Trying My Best to Live by the Example Jesus Gave Us!

 

We can change our ways! We can listen and follow and do what is right! We all have choices, we have to decide what and who we will follow, will we do what is right in God's eyes. The readings this week are very good for all of us to know and live by. God's words certainly are inspirational! A lot of advice and guidance on how to live! People need to turn from their wicked ways. All of us. The book of Matthew is hard on priests, pharisees, and the church clergy that is for sure. It always points out the hypocrisy and judgement they do, but do not even follow themselves. Jesus spoke to them in parables too, and let them know they were no better than others, that prostitutes and tax collectors have more of a chance to get into Heaven over them, because they repent, change their ways, and follow God, like with what Jesus said, and John the Baptist said, how we need to repent, even the high priests did not want to listen to John. God has all in the Torah, the Bible, the New Testament, there is so much for us to glean and live by, but often even priests do not follow or practice what they preach, we see this a lot today. We must all, Remember your mercies, O Lord! We must live like Christ and have the same attitude of love, forgiveness, and mercy. The high priests often do not unfortunately. Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. We must always rejoice in the Lord every single day, each day is a day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! Always! Each day! We need to follow Him! We need to change our minds and follow the Lord. Each week when I receive the Holy Communion, I ask God as I receive to help me live more like  Jesus, to live by His example that He gave in my life always. Trying my best to be an obedient son for my Father! 

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1
Ezekiel 18:25-28
Thus says the LORD:
You say, "The LORD's way is not fair!"
Hear now, house of Israel:
Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?
When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies,
it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die.
But if he turns from the wickedness he has committed,
and does what is right and just,
he shall preserve his life;
since he has turned away from all the sins that he has committed,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. (6a) Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your love are from of old.
The sins of my youth and my frailties remember not;
in your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble his way.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.

Reading 2
Philippians 2:1-11
Brothers and sisters:
If there is any encouragement in Christ,
any solace in love,
any participation in the Spirit,
any compassion and mercy,
complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love,
united in heart, thinking one thing.
Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory;
rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,
each looking out not for his own interests,
but also for those of others.
Have in you the same attitude
that is also in Christ Jesus,
Who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

or

Phil 2:1-5
Brothers and sisters:
If there is any encouragement in Christ,
any solace in love,
any participation in the Spirit,
any compassion and mercy,
complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love,
united in heart, thinking one thing.
Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory;
rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,
each looking out not for his own interests,
but also for those of others.
Have in you the same attitude
that is also in Christ Jesus.

Alleluia
John 10:27
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Matthew 21:28-32
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people:
"What is your opinion?
A man had two sons.
He came to the first and said,
'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.'
He said in reply, 'I will not,'
but afterwards changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order.
He said in reply, 'Yes, sir, 'but did not go.
Which of the two did his father's will?"
They answered, "The first."
Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you,
tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the kingdom of God before you.
When John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did.
Yet even when you saw that,
you did not later change your minds and believe him."