Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost 2026 – October 25

On October 25, we will celebrate the Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost 2026, with Morning Prayer.

This Sunday’s readings focus on the essence of the whole law: love of God and love of neighbor. In Leviticus, God instructs the people to be holy because God is holy, describing holiness in practical terms such as fair judgment, honest speech, and rejecting hatred or grudges.

The psalmist finds refuge in God, seeking assurance from one generation to the next and asking that the work of our hands be established.

The Apostle Paul reminds the Thessalonians of a ministry characterized by courage, integrity, and the gentleness of a nurse caring for her own children.

Lastly, when Jesus is asked which commandment is the greatest, He responds that all the Law and the Prophets depend on loving God with our whole being and loving our neighbor as ourselves.

Join us for worship in the way that suits you best! You can worship with us in person, via Live Stream, Video Replay, or Podcast.

If You Cannot Join Us In Person for the Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost 2026!

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

Livestream/Playback

Join us live at 8:50 AM for the organ prelude, followed by the service at 9:00 AM. After the livestream ends, you can watch the replay anytime.

Podcast

Did you know that we are available on all major platforms? Our podcast covers everything from the opening hymn to the sharing of the peace.

We release our podcast regularly on Sunday afternoons. Follow us on your favorite podcast player to know when new episodes drop.

The Collect for the Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; 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 Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost

Old Testament: Leviticus 19:1–2, 15–18

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to all the congregation of the Israelites and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

“You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor. You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand idly by when the blood of your neighbor is at stake: I am the Lord.

“You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

Psalm 90:1–6, 13–17

Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 2:1–8

You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals but to please God, who tests our hearts. As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed, nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

Gospel: Matthew 22:34–46

When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, an expert in the law, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him,” ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: “What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying,

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”’?

If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?” No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

Reflection on the Readings for the Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost 2026

You Shall Be Holy – Leviticus 19:1–2, 15–18

The chapter begins with a powerful statement: “Speak to all the congregation of the Israelites and say to them: You shall be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.” This message is not intended solely for priests or a spiritual elite; it is directed to the entire community. Holiness is the calling of all people, rooted in God’s character: you shall be holy because I am holy.

What follows may surprise those who think of holiness as a retreat into personal piety. The type of holiness described here is deeply social, expressed in courtrooms, conversations, and relationships. “You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the powerful: with justice, you shall judge your neighbor.” Fairness must not favor the powerful, nor should it show bias toward the poor. Justice is simply justice.

“You must not spread false rumors among your people, nor should you remain indifferent when your neighbor’s life is at risk. Holiness guides our words and prohibits us from being bystanders. When a neighbor’s life or well-being is threatened, silence or inaction is not neutral.

The passage then turns inward, addressing the heart: “You shall not harbor hatred in your heart against anyone in your family; instead, you should correct your neighbor, or else you will be guilty yourself.” It identifies secret hatred as a wrongdoing and suggests that honest, direct correction is a more loving alternative to holding onto simmering resentment. “You shall not seek vengeance or hold a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

In the middle of Leviticus, we come across the line that Jesus emphasizes as the second greatest commandment. This commandment is reinforced by the recurring phrase that concludes many of these verses: “I am the Lord.” Loving our neighbors is not just good advice; it is rooted in God’s very nature.

Our Refuge from One Generation to Another – Psalm 90:1–6, 13–17

Psalm 90 begins by expressing belonging: “Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to another.” Before addressing human frailty, the psalmist emphasizes God’s faithfulness throughout time. Generations rise and fall, but God remains a constant dwelling place for all.

A stark contrast emerges between God’s eternity and our brief existence. The psalmist states, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or the land and the earth were born, from age to age you are God.” This emphasizes that God existed before the mountains. In comparison, “a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it has passed and like a watch in the night.” The psalmist further describes human life as “like a dream” and “like the grass” that blooms in the morning but withers by evening.

This is a sincere and sobering reflection, but it is not one of despair. The psalmist acknowledges human fragility but brings it before the One who is not fragile. This leads to the prayer in the second half of our reading: “Return, O Lord; how long will you wait? Be gracious to your servants.” It expresses the longing of those who recognize their smallness and trust that God is close enough to hear them.

What are they asking for? Not an escape from time, but rather meaning within it. “Satisfy us with your loving-kindness in the morning, so that we may rejoice and be glad all the days of our lives.” “Show your servants your deeds and your splendor to their children.” And finally, “May the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us; prosper the work of our hands; prosper our efforts.”

The psalm concludes by asking God to bless the ordinary work of human hands. Though our lives are as brief as grass, our efforts and love matter because God, our refuge, embraces them with care. This is a suitable prayer for a community called to embody holiness and love for their neighbors in the everyday tasks of life.

Gentle Among You – 1 Thessalonians 2:1–8

Paul reminds the Thessalonians of how he conducted his ministry among them. Despite being “shamefully mistreated at Philippi,” he and his companions found the courage in God to proclaim the gospel “despite great opposition.” This courage is not mere bravado; it is firmly rooted in their faith in God.

Paul describes what their message did not convey: it did not originate from deceit, impure motives, or trickery. They spoke not to please humans but to please God, who examines our hearts. They spoke without flattery, greed, or a desire for human praise. Paul also emphasizes that, as apostles, they could have made demands, but they chose not to.

One of the most tender images in all of Paul’s letters is this: “But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children.” This evokes the picture of a nursing mother or a caregiver who cherishes and protects her children. It illustrates authority that is exercised with nurturing care.

“We care for you so deeply that we are committed to sharing not only the gospel of God but also our very lives, because you have become very dear to us.” The gospel is not presented from a distance; it is shared along with the life of the one who delivers it.

This is an example of Leviticus 19 being lived out in the church. Paul’s ministry shows what it means to reject flattery and manipulation, act honestly, and love our neighbors so deeply that we offer not just a message, but ourselves. This serves as a model for every congregation and for every Christian who aspires to share the good news.

The Greatest Commandment – Matthew 22:34–46

The Pharisees had just witnessed Jesus silence the Sadducees, and they came together to discuss the matter. One of them, an expert in the law, posed a question “to test him”: “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” This was a common debate among legal scholars, given the hundreds of commandments, and any answer could easily offend someone.

Jesus responds by quoting the Shema, a fundamental declaration at the heart of Israel’s faith: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” He states that this is “the greatest and first commandment.” Loving God requires total commitment, involving the heart, soul, and mind.

But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He adds, “And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” This second commandment is drawn from Leviticus 19:18, the same chapter we read this morning. The two commandments are interconnected; love for God and love for neighbor are not competing priorities but are inseparable, each shaping the other. “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Jesus then challenges the people by asking, “What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They respond, “The son of David.” Jesus presses them further by referencing Psalm 110: “How is it that David, by the Spirit, calls him Lord?” If the Messiah is simply a descendant of David, why would David address him as Lord? The question hangs in the air, unanswered. “No one was able to respond to him, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.”

The two exchanges are interconnected. The first illustrates the law’s purpose: love. The second identifies Jesus as the Lord David himself calls. The command to love is not an abstract concept; it comes from the One whose authority surpasses any title we might give Him. He demonstrates what love truly looks like, ultimately shown through His sacrifice on the cross.

The Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost Wrap-Up

These readings bring us back to the core message. Leviticus teaches us that holiness is not about escaping the world but about being faithful within it. This includes fair judgment, honest speech, holding no grudges, and loving our neighbors, all rooted in God’s holiness. Psalm 90 reflects on the brevity and fragility of our lives while emphasizing that God is our refuge across generations. It asks that the work of our hands be established. Paul illustrates what loving our neighbor looks like in practice: being gentle, honest, generous, and willing to share not only the gospel but also ourselves. Jesus summarizes it all, highlighting that love for God and love for neighbor are the two commandments upon which everything else depends.

As the church year comes to a close, these readings encourage us to reflect on what our own holiness looks like in our daily lives. We should consider how we communicate, how we make judgments, how we treat those who wrong us, and how we choose to spend the days we have been given. We pray the words of today’s collect: “Increase in us faith, hope, and charity, and help us to love what God commands.”

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The readings from the Old Testament, New Testament, and Gospels 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.