A reading from the Book Proverbs
21:1-6, 10-13
Like a stream is the king’s heart in the hand of the LORD;
wherever it pleases him, he directs it.
All the ways of a man may be right in his own eyes,
but it is the LORD who proves hearts.
To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart–
the tillage of the wicked is sin.
The plans of the diligent are sure of profit,
but all rash haste leads certainly to poverty.
Whoever makes a fortune by a lying tongue
is chasing a bubble over deadly snares.
The soul of the wicked man desires evil;
his neighbor finds no pity in his eyes.
When the arrogant man is punished, the simple are the wiser;
when the wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
The just man appraises the house of the wicked:
there is one who brings down the wicked to ruin.
He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself also call and not be heard.
From the Gospel according to Luke
8:19-21
The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him
but were unable to join him because of the crowd.
He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside
and they wish to see you.”
He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers
are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”
Jesus continued speaking with the people, and He loved the people and loved the crowd, so much so that He said, “These who follow me, that vast crowd, are my mother and my brothers; they are these”. And He explained: [They are] those who listen to the Word of God and put it into practice. These are the two conditions for following Jesus: listening to the Word of God and putting it into practice. This is Christian life, nothing more. Simple, simple. (…) Every time we do this – we open the Gospel and read a passage, and ask ourselves: “Is God speaking to me with this, is He saying something to me? And if He is saying something, what is He saying?” – this is listening to the Word of God, listening to it with our ears and listening to it with our hearts. Opening our hearts to the Word of God. Jesus’ enemies listened to His words, but they stayed close to Him to try and find a mistake, to trip Him up, and to undermine His authority. Yet they never asked themselves: “What is God saying to me in this Word?” And God does not speak merely to everyone: yes, He speaks to everyone, but He speaks to each one of us. The Gospel was written for each and every one of us. (…) The Lord sows His Word, always; He merely asks for an open heart to hear it and a willingness to put it into practice. Let us therefore make today’s prayer that of the Psalm: “Lead me in the path of thy commandments”, that is, the path of Your Word, so that, with your guidance, I may learn to put it into practice. (Pope Francis, Homily of 23 September 2014)
Gospel and Word of the Day – 22 September 2026 –
A reading from the Book Proverbs
21:1-6, 10-13
Like a stream is the king’s heart in the hand of the LORD;
wherever it pleases him, he directs it.
All the ways of a man may be right in his own eyes,
but it is the LORD who proves hearts.
To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart–
the tillage of the wicked is sin.
The plans of the diligent are sure of profit,
but all rash haste leads certainly to poverty.
Whoever makes a fortune by a lying tongue
is chasing a bubble over deadly snares.
The soul of the wicked man desires evil;
his neighbor finds no pity in his eyes.
When the arrogant man is punished, the simple are the wiser;
when the wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
The just man appraises the house of the wicked:
there is one who brings down the wicked to ruin.
He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself also call and not be heard.
From the Gospel according to Luke
8:19-21
The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him
but were unable to join him because of the crowd.
He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside
and they wish to see you.”
He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers
are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”
Jesus continued speaking with the people, and He loved the people and loved the crowd, so much so that He said, “These who follow me, that vast crowd, are my mother and my brothers; they are these”. And He explained: [They are] those who listen to the Word of God and put it into practice. These are the two conditions for following Jesus: listening to the Word of God and putting it into practice. This is Christian life, nothing more. Simple, simple. (…) Every time we do this – we open the Gospel and read a passage, and ask ourselves: “Is God speaking to me with this, is He saying something to me? And if He is saying something, what is He saying?” – this is listening to the Word of God, listening to it with our ears and listening to it with our hearts. Opening our hearts to the Word of God. Jesus’ enemies listened to His words, but they stayed close to Him to try and find a mistake, to trip Him up, and to undermine His authority. Yet they never asked themselves: “What is God saying to me in this Word?” And God does not speak merely to everyone: yes, He speaks to everyone, but He speaks to each one of us. The Gospel was written for each and every one of us. (…) The Lord sows His Word, always; He merely asks for an open heart to hear it and a willingness to put it into practice. Let us therefore make today’s prayer that of the Psalm: “Lead me in the path of thy commandments”, that is, the path of Your Word, so that, with your guidance, I may learn to put it into practice. (Pope Francis, Homily of 23 September 2014)
A reading from the Book Proverbs
21:1-6, 10-13
Like a stream is the king’s heart in the hand of the LORD;
wherever it pleases him, he directs it.
All the ways of a man may be right in his own eyes,
but it is the LORD who proves hearts.
To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart–
the tillage of the wicked is sin.
The plans of the diligent are sure of profit,
but all rash haste leads certainly to poverty.
Whoever makes a fortune by a lying tongue
is chasing a bubble over deadly snares.
The soul of the wicked man desires evil;
his neighbor finds no pity in his eyes.
When the arrogant man is punished, the simple are the wiser;
when the wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
The just man appraises the house of the wicked:
there is one who brings down the wicked to ruin.
He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself also call and not be heard.
From the Gospel according to Luke
8:19-21
The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him
but were unable to join him because of the crowd.
He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside
and they wish to see you.”
He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers
are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”
Jesus continued speaking with the people, and He loved the people and loved the crowd, so much so that He said, “These who follow me, that vast crowd, are my mother and my brothers; they are these”. And He explained: [They are] those who listen to the Word of God and put it into practice. These are the two conditions for following Jesus: listening to the Word of God and putting it into practice. This is Christian life, nothing more. Simple, simple. (…) Every time we do this – we open the Gospel and read a passage, and ask ourselves: “Is God speaking to me with this, is He saying something to me? And if He is saying something, what is He saying?” – this is listening to the Word of God, listening to it with our ears and listening to it with our hearts. Opening our hearts to the Word of God. Jesus’ enemies listened to His words, but they stayed close to Him to try and find a mistake, to trip Him up, and to undermine His authority. Yet they never asked themselves: “What is God saying to me in this Word?” And God does not speak merely to everyone: yes, He speaks to everyone, but He speaks to each one of us. The Gospel was written for each and every one of us. (…) The Lord sows His Word, always; He merely asks for an open heart to hear it and a willingness to put it into practice. Let us therefore make today’s prayer that of the Psalm: “Lead me in the path of thy commandments”, that is, the path of Your Word, so that, with your guidance, I may learn to put it into practice. (Pope Francis, Homily of 23 September 2014)