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Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

September 06, 2026

Fr. John Colacino C.PP.S.

Introit

Collect

O God, by whom we are redeemed and receive adoption,
look graciously upon your beloved sons and daughters,
that those who believe in Christ
may receive true freedom
and an everlasting inheritance.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen. (RM)

First Reading Ez 33:7-9

The word of the Lord came to me: 7 “So you, O mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8 “If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked ones, you shall surely die,’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. 9 “But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.”

Responsorial Psalm

R/. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Second Reading Rom 13:8-10

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbour as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

Alleluia 2 Cor 5:19

Gospel Mt 18:15-20

Jesus spoke to his disciples. 15 “If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the brother or sister listens to you, you have regained that one. 16 But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If the brother or sister refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

Catena Nova

Whenever necessity compels one to reprove or rebuke another, we ought to proceed with godly discernment and caution. First of all, let us consider whether the other fault is such, as we ourselves have never had, or whether it is one that we have overcome. Then, if we have never had such a fault, let us remember that we are human and could have had it. But if we have had it and are rid of it now, let us remember our common frailty, in order that mercy, not hatred, may lead us to the giving of correction and admonition. In this way, whether the admonition occasions the amendment, or the worsening of the one for whose sake we are offering it, (for the result cannot be foreseen), we ourselves shall be made safe through singleness of eye. But if on reflection we find that we ourselves have the same fault as the one we are about to reprove, let us neither correct nor rebuke that one. Rather, let us bemoan the fault ourselves and induce that person to a similar concern, without asking him to submit to our correction. (St Augustine)

You will be doing everything for the glory of God if, when you leave this place, you make yourselves responsible for saving a brother or sister, not just by accusing and rebuking him or her, but also by advising and encouraging, and by pointing out the harm done by worldly amusements, and the profit and help that come from our instruction. Surely it is right for each of us to offer to extend a helping hand to those who through laxity have fallen into the snares of the devil.... But I am quite certain that you will do this out of the tender love you bear your own members, and that you will make every effort to bring your neighbors back to our common Mother, because I know that through the grace of God you are able to admonish others with wisdom (St. John Chrysostom).

If Jesus denies nothing to so small a group as two or three, will he refuse those who ask for it in the assemblies and congregation of the church?… Some, however, endeavor to excuse under an appearance of faith the idleness that prompts their contempt for assemblies. They omit participation in the fervor of the assembled congregation and pretend that they have devoted to prayer the time they have expended upon their household cares. While they give themselves up to their own desires, they scorn and despise the divine service. These are the people who destroy the body of Christ. They scatter its members. They do not permit the full form of its Christlike appearance to develop to its abundant beauty…Individual members do indeed have their own duty of personal prayer, but they will not be able to fulfill it if they come to the beauty of that perfect body wrapped up in themselves. There is this difference between the glorious fullness of the congregation and the vanity of separation that springs out of ignorance or negligence: in salvation and honor the beauty of the whole body is found in the unity of the members. (St. Peter Chrysologus)

If we reply angrily to another's anger, we shall only be fanning the flames, when we should be making every attempt to extinguish them by mildness and meekness. Mildness, however, is not condescension to evil, and much less, connivance with it. There are times, as the Gospel teaches, when fraternal correction is required; in such cases it becomes a real act of charity…. Only a sincere dispassionate desire for the good of others can make fraternal correction charitable and efficacious; it should be made with so much kindness that the person concerned feels our love for him far more than the humiliation of being corrected. This is the way Jesus treated sinners; all were cured by His love and mildness (Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalene).

The practice of discipline in the congregation begins in the smallest circles. Where defection from God’s Word in doctrine or life imperils the family fellowship and with it the whole congregation, the word of admonition and rebuke must be ventured. Nothing can be more cruel than the tenderness that consigns another to his sin. Nothing can be more compassionate than the severe rebuke that calls a brother back from the path of sin. (Dietrich Bonhoeffer).

We are as God sees us. What’s wrong about seeking “human respect” is that it gets us into the habit of asking, “What will others think?” and forgetting to ask, “What will God think?” We are commanded to help one another. That means helping one another put God first and showing love for one another in ways that helps them too put God first. As you observe customs of courtesy and mutual respect do you do this in ways that help all concerned recall God’s love for us and our need to love God by loving each other so that we all go steadily toward God and God’s Kingdom? (Msgr. Ronald Knox)

It is good to ask ourselves what drives us to correct a brother or a sister, and if we are not in some way co-responsible for their mistake…. The supreme rule regarding fraternal correction is love: to want the good of our brothers and sisters. It is a matter of tolerating the problems of others, the defects of others in the silence of prayer, so as to find the right way to help them to correct themselves. And this is not easy. The easiest path is to gossip. Talking behind someone else’s back as if I am perfect. And this should not be done. (Pope Francis)

Homily (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Labor Day Message; September 7, 2026))

Most Reverend Shelton J. Fabre
Archbishop of Louisville
Chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development

Labor Day is an opportunity to celebrate workers and honor the dignity of work. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of participation in God’s creation. This year, we focus on young people and vulnerable communities who face uncertainty in today’s economy. Traditional economic indicators tell us the economy is growing, but hiring has slowed, especially for unemployed workers, and unemployment remains high for Black workers. Roughly one-quarter of the labor force are low-wage workers; among them, 72% lack stable and secure jobs and more than half are people of color. More than 70% of Americans believe having children is unaffordable, an increase of 13 points in just the last year. There is widespread concern that artificial intelligence (AI) will lead to higher unemployment and to fewer jobs that can support a family. Young people have been the most impacted so far and also experience the most anxiety about AI’s impact on their work. We must listen to the experiences of workers, families, young people, and communities of color as they struggle to find stability.

While affirming his predecessors’ teachings on labor which support human flourishing and the common good, including dignified work, just wages, and support for labor unions, Pope Leo XIV, in his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence, highlights the new challenges arising from AI. He notes that although AI presents new opportunities, it also risks normalizing a vision that is anti-human. AI systems can imitate but never replace human intelligence. AI cannot feel, love, discern, or receive God’s grace and wisdom. It is not morally neutral and risks creating “new forms of exclusion” (no. 102). AI must be carefully developed to ensure it serves the common good and humanity itself.

Pope Leo expressly acknowledges the great risks of AI for workers: de-skilling, surveillance, rigid and repetitive tasks, reduced agency and creativity, unemployment, job insecurity, concentrated power, and increased inequalities. Furthermore, AI relies on low-wage workers, who are often hidden and who endure harsh conditions, caught in an exploitative supply chain. Pope Leo calls us to work together to “design systems centered on the human person and not solely on performance” (no. 150) and foster an economy that values the God given dignity of each person. Dignified work is not merely about productivity, but also participation in God’s creation. A just economy is not judged on profit alone, but on inclusive growth and protection for the most vulnerable (no. 158).

At first glance, the tasks may seem daunting: to ensure just development of AI systems, with worker participation, transparency and accountability; to protect good jobs, offer retraining where needed, and correct the power imbalances that are exacerbated by technology. And yet, we have been here before. In response to the Industrial Revolution, Pope Leo XIII wrote Rerum Novarum in 1891 and the Church has brought the sacredness of the human person to the questions of work and labor for these last 135 years. We recognize that as we observe the 40th anniversary of Economic Justice for All, the U.S. bishops’ landmark document on the economy, much of the teaching of this document remains relevant for our shared project in the United States. As we confront this latest challenge, we invite all to be partners in this work. The Church, the government, labor unions, civil society groups, corporations, and others all have a “shared responsibility” to protect the human person and the dignity of work (no. 181).

As new technology reshapes our economy and our work, let us be “builders of communion” (no. 16), ensuring that innovation and development is for the benefit of all, not just a few, and that each person can contribute to the Kingdom of God through their work.

Intercessions (Joe Milner; The Sunday Website)

For the Church: that we may be a community that continues Christ’s mission of reconciling those who are estranged.

For the grace of tough love: that we may speak the truth lovingly and honestly to those who are injuring themselves or others and be willing to hear the truth spoken to us.

For healing of racial injustice: that Christians may work to promote the dignity of each individual, advocate against unjust structures and policies, and seek reconciliation in our communities.

For public safety and relief workers: that God will protect them from harm, give them the strength to fulfill their duties, and help them offer support and hope to those in crisis.

For educational leaders: that God will give them wisdom and insight in providing safe and productive environments for students and staff during the coming year.

For greater care for the earth: that God will help us to respect and be responsible stewards of the creation that God has entrusted to our care.

For all who are recovering from hurricanes, storms, or wildfires: that God will heal their pain, give them the courage to move forward, and remove the obstacles that block their recovery.

For an end to violence between nations, in our cities, and within families: that God will give to all who are drawn to violence a new vision of the uniqueness of each person and an appreciation of their gifts.

Confirm, O God, in unity and truth the Church you gather in Christ. Encourage the fervent, enlighten the doubtful, and bring back the wayward. Bind us together in mutual love, that our prayer in Christ’s name may be pleasing to you. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. (ICEL; 1998)

Offertory Antiphon

Offertory Hymn

Draw us in the Spirit's tether;
For when humbly, in thy name,
Two or three are met together,
Thou art in the midst of them:
Alleluya! Alleluya! Touch we now thy garment's hem.

As the faithful used to gather
In the name of Christ to sup,
Then with thanks to God the Father
Break the bread and bless the cup,
Alleluya! Alleluya! So knit thou our friendship up.

All our meals and all our living
Make as sacraments of thee,
That by caring, helping, giving,
We may true disciples be.
Alleluya! Alleluya! We will serve thee faithfully.

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