Daily readings

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Wednesday of the 4th week of Ordinary Time. Ordinary Time. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

CelebrationWednesday of the 4th week of Ordinary Time

TypeWeekday

SeasonOrdinary Time

Year2026 archive

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.

Reading mode

Plain mode helps modern readers follow the text more easily.

The on-site reading text is drawn from public-domain Douay-Rheims sources. 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.

What are the Mass readings for Wednesday February 4, 2026?

The Catholic Mass readings for Wednesday February 4, 2026 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading 2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17, psalm Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7, no second reading is appointed for this Mass,and Gospel Mark 6:1-6.

What is the Gospel for Wednesday February 4, 2026?

The Gospel for Wednesday February 4, 2026 is Mark 6:1-6. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Wednesday February 4, 2026?

The psalm for Wednesday February 4, 2026 is Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7. It is included below in the same reading order used at Mass, between the first reading and the Gospel.

Are these the USCCB daily readings for Wednesday February 4, 2026?

The same day's Catholic readings are gathered here on-site, with the official readings link available below in the source note.

1

First Reading

2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17

How to approach it

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.

24:2And the king said to Joab the general of his army: Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Bersabee, and number you the people that I may know the number of them.

9And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people to the king, and there were found of Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword: and of Juda five hundred thousand fighting men.

10But David's heart struck him, after the people were numbered: and David said to the Lord: I have sinned very much in what I have done: but I ask you, O Lord, to take away the sin of your servant, because I have done exceeding foolishly.

11And David arose in the morning, and the word of the Lord came to Gad the prophet and the seer of David, saying:

12Go, and say to David: Thus says the Lord: I give you your choice of three things, choose one of them which you will, that I may do it to you.

13And when Gad was come to David, he told him, saying: Either seven years of famine shall come to you in your land: or you shall flee three months before your adversaries, and they shall pursue you: or for three days there shall be a pestilence in your land. Now therefore deliberate, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.

14And David said to Gad: I am in a great narrow: but it is better that I should fall into the hands of the Lord (for his mercies are many) than into the hands of men.

15And the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel, from the morning to the time appointed, and there died of the people from Dan to Bersabee seventy thousand men.

16And when the angel of the Lord had stretched out his hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord had pity on the suffering, and said to the angel that slew the people: It is enough: now hold your hand. And the angel of the Lord was by the thrashingfloor of Areuna the Jebusite.

17And David said to the Lord, when he saw the angel striking the people: It is I; I am he that have sinned, I have done wickedly: these that are the sheep, what have they done? let your hand, I beg you, be turned against me, and against my father's house.

2

Psalm

Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7

How to pray it

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.

32:1To David himself, understanding. Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

2Blessed is the man to whom the Lord has not imputed sin, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

5I have acknowledged my sin to you, and my injustice I have not concealed. I said I will confess against myself my injustice to the Lord: and you have forgiven the evil of my sin.

6For this shall every one that is holy pray to you in a seasonable time. And yet in a flood of many waters, they shall not come nigh to him.

7You are my refuge from the trouble which has encompassed me: my joy, deliver me from them that surround me.

3

Gospel

Mark 6:1-6

What to watch for

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.

6:1And going out from from there, he went into his own country; and his disciples followed him.

2And when the sabbath was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were in admiration at his teaching, saying: How came this man by all these things? and what wisdom is this that is given to him, and such mighty works as are wrought by his hands?

3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joseph, and Jude, and Simon? are not also his sisters here with us? And they were scandalized in regard of him.

4And Jesus said to them: A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and in his own house, and among his own kindred.

5And he could not do any signs there, only that he cured a few that were sick, laying his hands upon them.

6And he wondered because of their unbelief, and he went through the villages round about teaching.

How the readings move through Mass today

The Liturgy of the Word normally moves from the first reading to the psalm, then to the second reading when one is appointed, then to the Gospel, and then into the homily. On weekday Masses, the second reading is often omitted, so the Church moves from the psalm directly to the Gospel.

1

First Reading

2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17

The first reading is usually taken from the Old Testament. It prepares the heart to hear how God has been acting through his covenant and promises.

2

Psalm

Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7

The psalm is the Church’s prayerful response to the first reading. It helps the congregation answer God’s word with trust, praise, repentance, or hope.

3

Second Reading

Usually omitted today

There is no second reading at many weekday Masses. On days like this, the liturgy moves from the psalm directly to the Gospel.

4

Gospel

Mark 6:1-6

The Gospel is the high point of the Liturgy of the Word. Catholics stand because Christ himself speaks to his people in a special way through the Gospel proclamation.

5

Homily

After the Gospel

The homily follows the Gospel. It should gather the day’s readings together, explain the mystery being celebrated, and help people carry the word of God into ordinary life.

What the homily usually draws together

A Catholic homily usually gathers the first reading, the psalm, and the Gospel into one spiritual movement. It may explain how the Old Testament prepares for Christ, how the apostles witness to the risen Lord, how the psalm teaches the Church to pray, and how the Gospel calls for faith and conversion now.

If you are preparing before Mass, try to carry one sentence, one image, or one invitation from the readings with you. That usually makes the homily easier to follow because you already know what part of God's word has stayed with you.

What about the Prayers of the Faithful for Wednesday February 4, 2026?

The Prayers of the Faithful are usually written locally by a parish, diocese, or celebrant, so there is not always one universal text for this exact day. The scriptural readings above are the stable part the whole Church receives, and they usually shape the petitions that follow at Mass.

Source note

The day's references and liturgical celebration data come from the Catholic Readings API, while the on-site scripture text is rendered from public-domain Douay-Rheims sources so the day's readings can be read directly on the page.