Daily readings

Friday, February 20, 2026

Friday after Ash Wednesday. Lent. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

CelebrationFriday after Ash Wednesday

TypeWeekday

SeasonLent

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.

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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 Friday February 20, 2026?

The Catholic Mass readings for Friday February 20, 2026 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading Isaiah 58:1-9a, psalm Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 18-19, no second reading is appointed for this Mass,and Gospel Matthew 9:14-15.

What is the Gospel for Friday February 20, 2026?

The Gospel for Friday February 20, 2026 is Matthew 9:14-15. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Friday February 20, 2026?

The psalm for Friday February 20, 2026 is Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 18-19. 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 Friday February 20, 2026?

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

First Reading

Isaiah 58:1-9a

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.

58:1Cry, cease not, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show my people their evil doings, and the house of Jacob their sins.

2For they seek me from day to day, sad desire to know my ways, as a nation that has done righteousness, and has not left the judgment of their God: they ask of me the judgments of righteousness: they are willing to approach to God.

3Why have we fasted, and you have not regarded: have we humbled our souls, and you have not taken notice? Look in the day of your fast your own will is found, and you exact of all your debtors.

4Look you fast for debates and strife. and strike with the fist wickedly. Do not fast as you have done until this day, to make your cry to be heard on high.

5Is this such a fast as I have chosen: for a man to afflict his soul for a day? is this it, to wind his head about like a circle, and to spread sackcloth and ashes? will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord?

6Is not this rather the fast that I have chosen? loose the bands of evil, undo the bundles that oppress, let them that are broken go free, and break asunder every burden.

7Deal your bread to the hungry, and bring the needy and the harbourless into your house: when you shall see one naked, cover him, and despise not your own flesh.

8Then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your health shall speedily arise, and your righteousness shall go before your face, end the glory of the Lord shall gather you up.

9Then shall you call, and the Lord shall hear: you shall cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If you will take away the chain out of the midst of you, and cease to stretch out the finger, and to speak that which profiteth not.

Psalm

Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 18-19

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.

51:3Have mercy on me, O God, according to your great mercy. And according to the crowd of your tender mercies blot out my sin.

4Wash me yet more from my sin, and cleanse me from my sin.

5For I know my sin, and my sin is always before me.

6To you only have I sinned, and have done evil before you: that you mayst be justified in your words and mayst overcome when you are judged.

18For if you had desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: with burnt offerings you will not be delighted.

19A sacrifice to God is an troubled spirit: a sorry and humbled heart, O God, you will not despise.

Gospel

Matthew 9:14-15

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.

9:14Then came to him the disciples of John, saying: Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?

15And Jesus said to them: Can the children of the bridegroom mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast.

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.

First Reading

Isaiah 58:1-9a

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.

Psalm

Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 18-19

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.

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.

Gospel

Matthew 9:14-15

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.

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 Friday February 20, 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.

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Saturday, February 21, 2026

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.