Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost 2026 – September 27

On September 27, we will celebrate the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost in 2026 with Morning Prayer.

This Sunday’s readings challenge us to reflect on the gap between our words and our actions. In the book of Ezekiel, the prophet addresses the accusation that God’s ways are unfair, emphasizing that God does not take pleasure in anyone’s death and calls all people to turn away from wrongdoing and choose life.

The psalmist asks for guidance in God’s truth and seeks to be remembered by God’s love rather than by past mistakes.

In the New Testament, Paul shares one of Scripture’s most profound hymns, showing how Christ humbled himself by taking the form of a servant and submitting to death on a cross.

Additionally, Jesus presents the parable of two sons—one who initially refuses his father’s request but later obeys, and one who agrees to the task but never follows through. This parable highlights that true obedience is demonstrated through our actions, not just our words.

This Sunday’s service is Morning Prayer, without music.

Join us for worship in the way that suits you best! You can worship with us in person or via podcast.

If You Cannot Join Us In Person for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost 2026!

We understand that you may not always be able to attend in person; that’s why we offer a virtual option.

Livestream/Replay

Our livestream will begin around 8:55 am and will cover the entire Morning Prayer. After the service, the same link will be available for replay.

Podcast

Did you know that we are available on all major platforms? Our podcast covers everything from the opening sentences to the closing blessing.

The Collect for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Readings for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost 2026

Old Testament: Ezekiel 18:1–4, 25–32

The word of the Lord came to me: What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, “The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?” As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: only the person who sins shall die.

Yet you say, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed, they shall die. Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?

Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live.

Psalm 25:1–8

Epistle: Philippians 2:1–13

If, then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

who, though he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, assuming human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.

Therefore God exalted him even more highly and gave him the name that is above every other name, so that at the name given to Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence but much more now in my absence, work on your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Gospel: Matthew 21:23–32

When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why, then, did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for all regard John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not,’ but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same, and he answered, ‘I will not,’ but later he changed his mind and went. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him, and even after you saw it you did not change your minds and believe him.”

Reflection on the Readings for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost 2026

Is My Way Unfair? – Ezekiel 18:1–4, 25–32

Ezekiel addresses a widely accepted proverb among his people: “The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” This saying implies that individuals suffer the consequences of their ancestors’ actions—that guilt and punishment are passed down through generations. In this view, the current generation endures the repercussions for sins they did not commit.

God outright rejects this proverb: “As I live,” says the Lord God, “this proverb shall no longer be used by you in Israel. Know that all lives are Mine; the life of the parent and the life of the child are Mine. It is only the person who sins who shall die.” Each individual is accountable for their own choices. Guilt is not inherited. A child is not condemned for a parent’s sin, nor is a parent’s righteousness a shield for a child’s wrongdoing.

The people express their discontent, saying, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” In response, God asks them directly, “Is my way unfair? Are not your ways the unfair ones?” God then explains the true nature of divine justice: when the righteous turn to wrongdoing, they will die for their actions; conversely, when the wicked turn away from their wickedness and embrace righteousness, they will live. This system is not arbitrary; it is based on current choices, not on fixed destinies determined by birth or past reputation.

This passage conveys a tender and central message: “Repent and turn away from all your wrongdoings; otherwise, your iniquity will lead to your destruction. Remove all the sins you have committed against me, and obtain a new heart and a new spirit! Why would you choose to die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Therefore, turn back and live.”

God does not take pleasure in punishment. The passage conveys a sense of urgency, almost pleading with us to turn toward life. The opportunity for repentance is always available, no matter what has happened in the past, and regardless of what proverbs may imply about predetermined and inherited destinies.

Teach Me Your Paths – Psalm 25:1–8

The psalmist starts with a declaration of trust: “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; my God, I put my trust in you.” This trust is active and is paired with a plea for protection from humiliation and the plots of enemies.

“Show me your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and instruct me, for you are the God of my salvation; I have trusted in you all day long.” The psalmist embodies a posture of continuous learning and dependence. The request is not solely for immediate rescue but also for ongoing guidance – to be taught, to be led, and to walk in truth day after day.

The request resonates deeply with the themes of Ezekiel: “Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love, for they are everlasting. Do not remember the sins of my youth and my transgressions; instead, remember me according to your love and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.” The psalmist asks God to focus on His compassion and love rather than on past failures. This mirrors Ezekiel’s message—that a person’s past does not have to define their present or future standing before God.

“The Lord is gracious and just; therefore, He teaches sinners His ways. He guides the humble to act rightly and shows His path to the lowly.” God’s grace is given specifically to sinners—not because of their sins, but as a reflection of His essential nature. He teaches, guides, and instructs those who are humble enough to accept correction.

Christ Emptied Himself – Philippians 2:1–13

Paul begins by appealing to the unity that the Philippians already have in Christ: “If there is any comfort in Christ, any encouragement from love, any partnership in the Spirit, and any tender affection and compassion, then complete my joy by agreeing, having the same love, and being in full accord and of one mind.”

Paul describes the posture that this unity requires: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others as better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others.”

This is a challenging standard, and Paul bases it on the ultimate example: Christ himself. What follows is one of the most theologically rich and beautiful passages in the entire New Testament, likely an early Christian hymn that Paul includes in his letter.

“Let the same mindset be within you that was in Christ Jesus. Although he existed in the form of God, he did not consider equality with God something to cling to. Instead, he emptied himself, taking on the form of a servant and assuming human likeness.”

Christ, who existed in the very nature of God, did not hold on to that equality. He emptied Himself — a concept referred to in Greek as kenosis, meaning self-emptying — and took on the form of a servant. The one who had every right to divine glory chose instead to assume the position of a slave.

“And being found in appearance as a human, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.” The descent is profound: from the form of God, to the form of a slave, to the likeness of humanity, to humble obedience, and ultimately to death. Not just any death, but the most shameful and excruciating death known in the Roman world—death on a cross.

The hymn does not conclude with a theme of descent. Instead, it proclaims: “Therefore, God exalted Him even more highly and bestowed upon Him the name that is above every name. So that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bend— in heaven, on earth, and under the earth— and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The pattern is clear: humility leads to exaltation, while self-emptying results in glory. This is the mindset Paul urges the Philippians to adopt—not as a strategy for personal advancement, but as a genuine reflection of Christ’s self-giving love.

Paul concludes with a practical admonition: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, enabling you both to desire and to act for His good pleasure.” Working out salvation is not done in isolation; God operates within us, empowering both our intentions and our actions.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words – Matthew 21:23–32

The chief priests and elders confront Jesus in the temple, demanding to know by what authority he acts. Their challenge is meant to trap him: if he claims divine authority, he risks being charged with blasphemy; if he claims human authority, he undermines his own ministry.

Jesus responds with a counter-question about John the Baptist’s authority: was it from heaven or of human origin? The leaders find themselves trapped. If they say it was “from heaven,” Jesus will ask why they didn’t believe John. If they claim it was “of human origin,” they risk angering the crowd, as the people viewed John as a prophet. In the end, they pretend not to know, stating, “We do not know.” Consequently, Jesus refuses to answer their original question.

In a powerful parable, Jesus illustrates a profound lesson. A father asks his two sons to work in the vineyard. The first son refuses at first, saying, “I will not,” but later changes his mind and decides to go. The second son agrees immediately, responding, “I go, sir,” but ultimately never follows through.

Jesus asks which son did the father’s will, and the answer is clear: the first son, despite his initial refusal, ultimately acted. The second son’s words were meaningless without corresponding actions.

Jesus makes a pointed application of this parable to his listeners: “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. John came to you, preaching righteousness, but you did not believe him. In contrast, the tax collectors and the prostitutes did believe him. Even after witnessing this, you still did not change your minds and believe.”

The religious leaders resemble the second son; they outwardly comply and profess devotion to God’s law, yet ultimately fail to engage with God’s true work among them, as seen through John and Jesus. In contrast, the tax collectors and prostitutes—those deemed the most sinful and outside the limits of religious respectability—are like the first son. Although they initially rejected righteousness, they repented and believed after encountering John’s message.

This serves as a sobering reminder that professing a religion and truly obeying its teachings are not the same thing. It is entirely possible to express the right beliefs, claim allegiance to God, and yet fail to respond when God’s call comes. Conversely, those who seem farthest from righteousness may ultimately be the ones who genuinely turn and respond.

The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost Wrap-Up

These readings collectively challenge common assumptions about fairness, inheritance, religious status, and the connection between words and actions. Ezekiel challenges the idea that guilt is something inherited, emphasizing that God’s ways are just and calling everyone to turn away from their past and choose to live. The psalmist pleads to be remembered for God’s love rather than past mistakes, placing trust in God’s gracious nature. Paul presents Christ’s radical self-emptying as a model for Christian humility, tracing a journey into servanthood and death that ultimately leads to the highest exaltation. Meanwhile, Jesus shares a parable that highlights the futility of religious profession without genuine action, commending those who initially resisted but ultimately obeyed over those who claimed obedience but never acted.

As we move through the final weeks of the season after Pentecost, these readings encourage us to reflect on the disparity between our words and actions. They invite us to trust in a God whose grace surpasses our shortcomings and to embrace Christ’s humble, self-giving mindset. This should not be seen merely as a strategy, but as a genuine way of living focused on God and our neighbors.

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The Old Testament, New Testament, and Gospels readings are from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Collects, Psalms, and Canticles are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.