Gospel for 17 November 2026

Gospel

Mass Lectionary · Gospel

Luke 19:1–10

Having entered, he walked through Jericho. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. And he was the leader of the tax collectors, and he was wealthy. And he sought to see Jesus, to see who he was. But he was unable to do so, because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. And running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree, so that he might see him. For he was to pass near there. And when he had arrived at the place, Jesus looked up and saw him, and he said to him: “Zacchaeus, hurry down. For today, I should lodge in your house.” And hurrying, he came down, and he received him joyfully. And when they all saw this, they murmured, saying that he had turned aside to a sinful man. But Zacchaeus, standing still, said to the Lord: “Behold, Lord, one half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone in any matter, I will repay him fourfold.” Jesus said to him: “Today, salvation has come to this house; because of this, he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man has come to seek and to save what had been lost.”

Prayer on Fire Gospel Lesson

Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector and rich, wants to see who Jesus is and climbs a tree because he is small. Jesus looks up, calls him by name, and says he must stay at his house. The crowd grumbles that he has gone to be the guest of a sinner. Zacchaeus stands and gives half his goods to the poor and restores fourfold what he defrauded. Today salvation has come to this house. The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

Where this sits

The feast of Elizabeth of Hungary reads this. She gave her wealth away. The Gospel is a rich man met on the road.

Sought

Zacchaeus wanted to see. Jesus wanted to stay. The initiative that matters is his. Salvation is not a feeling. It shows up as restored money. The last line is the mission statement of the Gospel. He came to seek and save the lost, and the lost here is a rich collaborator.

What to take

He calls the ones the crowd has written off. A real meeting changes what you do with what you have.

Original – Prayer on Fire

Gospel of the Day · Text: Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV) · Mass Lectionary · Gospel

The Mass of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary may also use this Gospel. (Matthew 25:31–40)

Optional memorial Gospel

Matthew 25:31–40

When the Son of man will have arrived in his majesty, and all the Angels with him, then he will sit upon the seat of his majesty. And all the nations shall be gathered together before him. And he shall separate them from one another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he shall station the sheep, indeed, on his right, but the goats on his left. Then the King shall say to those who will be on his right: ‘Come, you blessed of my Father. Possess the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; naked, and you covered me; sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.’ Then the just will answer him, saying: ‘Lord, when have we seen you hungry, and fed you; thirsty, and given you drink? And when have we seen you a stranger, and taken you in? Or naked, and covered you? Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit to you?’ And in response, the King shall say to them, ‘Amen I say to you, whenever you did this for one of these, the least of my brothers, you did it for me.’

Not the weekday Gospel of the day · Text: Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV) · Matthew 25:31–40

Weekday Gospel · Luke 19:1–10

Tuesday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time