22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

30th August 2026

First Reading -Jeremiah 20:7-9

The Cost of Speaking God's Word

O Lord, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughing-stock all the day; everyone mocks me. For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, 'Violence and destruction!' For the word of the Lord has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. If I say, 'I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name', there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm - Longing for the Living God - Psalm 63(62):2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9. R. 2b

R. For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord, my God.

O God, you are my God; at dawn I seek you; for you my soul is thirsting. For you my flesh is pining, like a dry, weary land without water.

R. For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord, my God.

I have come before you in the sanctuary, to behold your strength and your glory. Your loving mercy is better than life; my lips will speak your praise.

R. For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord, my God.

I will bless you all my life; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul shall be filled as with a banquet; with joyful lips, my mouth shall praise you.

R. For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord, my God.

For you have been my strength; in the shadow of your wings I rejoice. My soul clings fast to you; your right hand upholds me.

Second Reading - Romans 12:1-2

Offering Ourselves to God

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans.

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Gospel - Matthew 16:21-27

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me

The Lord be with you. And with your spirit.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Glory to you, O Lord.

At that time: Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, 'Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.' But he turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.'

Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.'

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.