A Catholic guide for saints, prayer, and practical devotional reading.
4th Sunday of Ordinary Time. Ordinary Time. A clean reading layout for church, prayer, or preparation.
The Roman Catholic readings for this date are shown below on-site. Use plain reading mode if you want clearer modern wording, or switch back to the original Douay-Rheims wording at any time.
On-site scripture text: Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition. Plain mode is a built-in reading aid that modernizes older wording for easier understanding while keeping the same Roman Catholic reading references for the day.
Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13
Read this as the first big movement of the day. Notice what God is doing, who is speaking, and what part of the story or teaching should stay with you.
Full on-site text is not available for this reference yet, so use the reference above and the official link below.
Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10
The psalm is meant to be prayed, not rushed. If the wording feels older, focus on the main movement of the prayer: trust, praise, sorrow, gratitude, or hope.
6And they shall speak of the might of your terrible acts: and shall declare your greatness.
7They shall publish the memory of the abundance of your sweetness: and shall rejoice in your righteousness.
8The Lord is gracious and merciful: patient and plenteous in mercy.
9The Lord is sweet to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
10Let all your works, OH lord, praise you: and let your saints bless you.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
This reading often teaches Christians how to live with steadiness, charity, and faith. Look for one clear encouragement or warning you can carry into the day.
26For see your vocation, brothers and sisters, that there are not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble:
27But the foolish things of the world has God chosen, that he may confound the wise; and the weak things of the world has God chosen, that he may confound the strong.
28And the base things of the world, and the things that are contemptible, has God chosen, and things that are not, that he might bring to nought things that are:
29That no flesh should glory in his sight.
30But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and rescue:
31That, as it is written: He that glorieth, may glory in the Lord.
Matthew 5:1-12a
The Gospel is the center of the reading set. Pay close attention to what Jesus says, what Jesus does, and what response he is asking for.
Full on-site text is not available for this reference yet, so use the reference above and the official link below.
This page uses the Catholic Readings API for the day's references and liturgical celebration data, while the on-site scripture text is rendered from the public-domain Douay-Rheims Bible distributed through the Open Bibles project.