SCRIPTURE READINGS
Twenty-sixth Sunday, September 27, 2026

Biblical Readings Online Here 
(Year A in the three-year cycle of readings) 

Ordinarily, we think of sin as an offense against God. Bible readers would undoubtedly agree. Today’s readings do not exactly disagree, but both Ezekiel and Jesus shift the focus away from sin as an offense against God to the effects of sin on human beings. Ezekiel devotes an entire chapter to the issue. Past scholars usually think of it as a correction of an intergenerational view of family that children are punished for the sins of their forebears.  

The Ten Commandments assume that view: “For I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, inflicting punishment for their ancestors’ wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation; but showing love down to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:5-6). 

Though modern interpreters have largely moved away from that view, they recognized that Ezekiel’s statement is a priestly, an authoritative decision that persons will be judged primarily on their own conduct, not on their family’s conduct. Though Ezekiel’s exact intent is somewhat unclear and still debated, it is possible, even likely, that he is critiquing two groups of Israelites – exiled returnees to Judah, and those being still in exile.

Regarding the still-exiled, he assures them that their living outside the holy land does not disqualify them from being members of Israel; they incur no (objective) guilt from living outside the holy land; their personal fidelity to Israel’s ethics (conceived by Ezekiel in priestly language) are the sole criteria on which they will be judged.

Regarding those who have already returned to Zion, merely living in the holy land does not make them holy; genuine repentance is still necessary for them. The sayings current among both groups need prophetic correction when they repeat: “The Lord’s way is not fair.” Ezekiel summons all to freedom and proper repentance no matter where they are.

Though Jesus is not a priest, his parable addresses popular responses to the preaching of John the Baptizer, and of course to Jesus. One group seems to have given a quick yes to John’s preaching of the kingdom of heaven but never changed their way of life. Another group at first said no, but as they went on their way, their no became a yes.

Each group offers lessons for us today. “Repentance” in the sense of opening ourselves to the gospel often takes time and may seem to others to be indifference. On the other hand, initial enthusiasm can mask superficiality. People must discern God’s call.

Richard Clifford, S.J., has taught biblical studies for 55 years, most recently at the Clough School of Theology and Ministry, Boston College, and has written many scholarly and popular books and articles.